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[Display omitted] • A non-toxic Zn-0.8Li-0.4Mn alloy is designed and prepared. The synergistic enhancement of strength and plasticity of Zn-0.4Mn-0.8Li alloy is achieved through hot rolling, with an ultimate tensile strength of 449.1 MPa and an elongation rate exceeding 75%. • A correlation between alloy deformation and the corrosion mechanism of Zn-0.4Mn-0.8Li alloys is revealed. The application of biodegradable Zn-based vascular alloy stents proves to be an ideal solution for addressing cardiovascular diseases. In this work, a Zn-0.8Li-0.4Mn alloy is designed with no biological toxicity, and optimized microstructure and properties through a hot rolling process. The resulting alloy shows a combined enhancement in both mechanical strength and resistance to corrosion. Noteworthy is the effectiveness of rolling deformation in refining alloy grains, promoting the uniform distribution of precipitates, and enhancing strength and ductility. After 90 % deformation, the Zn-0.8Li-0.4Mn alloy demonstrates excellent mechanical properties, with peak yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 406.0 MPa and 449.1 MPa, respectively, and elongation exceeding 75 %. Corrosion studies indicate a relationship between the degradation rate increase and grain refinement, with the primary corrosion mechanism being pitting corrosion. The corrosion product Li 2 CO 3 exhibits high stability, providing a passivation effect on the alloy surface. This work establishes a theoretical foundation and practical reference for the development of new biodegradable Zn-based alloys tailored for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study showcases the preparation of Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 metallic glass-reinforced ultrafine grain copper matrix composites using a powder metallurgical process to achieve a superior combination of strength and electrical conductivity. The mechanical ball milling (BM) process is utilized to effectively refine the Cu matrix grains to the nanoscale. Furthermore, high-pressure spark plasma sintering (SPS) is employed to prevent grain growth and improve the interface bonding between two phases. Increasing the Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 addition content improved the mechanical properties under a load transfer strengthening strategy. Notably, the 20 wt% Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 /Cu composite demonstrates excellent mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity. This is attributed to the uniformly-dispersed Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 metallic glass particles in the ultrafine grain Cu matrix with well-established interfacial bonding. The synergistic strengthening of the Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 /Cu composites represents a novel choice for switch contact materials application, maintaining excellent mechanical properties while satisfying conductive requirements. • Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 /Cu composites were prepared by ball milling and spark plasma sintering. • The fabricated 20 wt% Cu 50 Zr 43 Al 7 /Cu composites exhibited balanced mechanical and electrical properties. • The high mechanical strength was achieved under synergistic-strengthening strategy of grain boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening and load transfer strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic glass-reinforced Cu-based composites offer a promising avenue for overcoming the trade-off between high strength and high electrical conductivity in materials. In this investigation, heterogeneous CuZrAl metallic glass-reinforced CuCrZr alloy composites are prepared through spark plasma sintering and a one-step hot pressing. The microstructural evolution of the composites during the preparation process and its correlation with mechanical and electrical properties are revealed. Grain refinement and dislocation accumulation in the CuCrZr alloy matrix resulted in strength gain and a trade-off in electrical conductivity. However, precipitation of the Cr-rich phase compensates for the loss of conductivity. Directional strengthening and toughening of the composites are achieved by inducing deformation of the CuZrAl metallic glass reinforcement in the undercooled liquid region to attain its ordered arrangement. Furthermore, the electrical and mechanical properties of the crystalline phase Cu 10 Zr 7 at the edge of metallic glass are predicted and investigated using first-principles calculations, with a focus on its impact on the performance of composites. A novel Cu-based metallic glass composites fabricated using an efficient processing approach offers valuable insights into material selection for electrical conductor applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]