Crystallization Toughening of Fe-Based Amorphous Alloys Under Strain–Heat Coupling Effect

The crystallization toughening of Fe-based amorphous alloys under strain–heat coupling effect was studied. This effect involved annealing crystallization along with uniform plastic deformation under three-direction compressive stress. Results showed that the Fe-based amorphous alloys subjected to strain–heat coupling action had greater toughening effect than those subjected to single low-temperature annealing. The difference was due to the change in morphology of the precipitated crystal phase and the substantial amount of free volume introduced into an amorphous matrix through uniform plastic deformation, which was conducive to the proliferation of shear bands. However, excessive plastic deformation led to direct fracture of materials after elastic deformation.