Improvement of high-temperature wear resistance of Zr-based metallic glass by pre-oxidation treatment

Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are promising for extensive industrial applications due to their superior mechanical properties, excellent glass formation ability (GFA), and low manufacturing costs. However, the wear resistance of Zr-based BMGs, especially when exposed to high-temperature service environments, is deficient and could lead to premature failure of critical components. Herein, we report an effective strategy that can significantly enhance the high-temperature wear resistance of Zr-based BMGs, referred to as pre-oxidation treatment (PT). At ambient temperature, the wear rate of the pristine Zr-based BMG samples was estimated to be ∼173.7 × 10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1, whereas the PT samples subjected to the PT strategy showed no detectable volume loss. In addition, the wear rate of the PT samples at 250 °C was ∼11.5 × 10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1. Intriguingly, even as the temperature surpassed the crystallization point of the BMG, the PT samples demonstrated a further enhancement in wear resistance, showcasing a wear rate of approximately ∼7.29 × 10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1. Our work introduces a promising and convenient strategy to enhance the high-temperature wear resistance of Zr-based BMG components, thereby promoting their application in real-world engineering scenarios.