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Starting from the two binary bulk glass formers in the Cu–Zr system, we systematically investigated the compositional dependence of glass formation, thermal, elastic, and mechanical properties in the Cu–Zr–Ag ternary bulk glassy alloys. Both Cu(50−x)Zr50Agx and Cu(64−x)Zr36Agx series show a good combination of high glass-forming ability and high Poisson’s ratio. However, compressive plastic deformation was only observed in Cu(50−x)Zr50Agx series and the possible underlying mechanism is discussed.

A foam synthesis method that takes advantage of the viscous high-temperature liquid state of Fe-based bulk glass-forming alloys to produce amorphous steel foam is introduced. Zirconium hydride is utilized as a foaming agent taking advantage of the low hydrogen solubility of these glass-forming alloys. Amorphous foams with porosities up to 65% were produced having homogenous cellular morphologies that exhibit cell-size uniformity. Even though intracellular solid regions as thin as a few micrometers are detected, on a global scale the cellular structure is determined to be incapable of alleviating the foam from the brittle nature of the monolithic glass.