Microstructure and tribological characteristic of Fe-based bulk metallic glass alloy fabricated by spark plasma and microwave sintering

The main focus of this research is to understand the microstructure and tribological behavior of an Fe-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) alloy fabricated by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) and microwave sintering processes. The final target is to find the optimized parameters to consolidate the initial amorphous powder without altering the microstructure and properties and achieving the best performance for tribological applications. The project will involve an in-depth characterization of the microstructure of the as received Fe-based amorphous powder. Then, we will study the effect of the process parameters of the sintering methods (SPS and microwave) on the densification, crystallinity and microstructure of the sintered alloy as well as the possibility of maintaining amorphous phase after sintering. After that, the mechanical properties of the sintered alloys will be measured and correlated with the microstructure. Finally, the tribological performance will be evaluated and the wear behavior of the sintered alloys will be investigated. The successful execution of the proposed research work, if funded, would pave the road for more in-depth research for this advanced promising materials and lead to the introduction of a technological route that can be used to developed alloys for tribology applications.