ABSTRACT
Composites are combinations of two or more constituent materials. These constituent materials exist in different phases, but they work together to give a synergistic effect. In a composite, one or more materials normally called a ‘reinforcing material’ is mixed in a base material normally called ‘matrix material’. There are several natural composites. Our bone is one of them. Wood is also a natural composite. Human civilisation is using composites like wood for several purposes for a long time. Similarly, we have fabricated composite long time ago. In modern days we fabricated numerous composites for different purposes. The application of composites extends from biomedical applications to building constructions, aerospace applications and defence. Several structural and mechanical applications require materials with unique properties such as materials having combination of properties like strength, fracture toughness and ductility are crucial. Bulk metallic glasses can serve the purpose but very low plasticity and brittleness are the limitations of bulk metallic glass. Various nanocomposites using metallic glasses are fabricated to overcome these weaknesses. Depending upon the requirement, several methods are adopted to reinforce these metallic-glasses. Nano-crystalline materials were mixed with metallic glasses for the manufacture of composites. Several methods were employed to reinforce metallic glasses. A nanocrystalline phase present in glassy phase can also be produced in-situ via controlled annealing or deformation-induced-devitrification (DID). They can also be synthesised ex-situ composites with BMGs either as reinforcements or as matrix. Normally, it is observed that the overall mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses improved after reinforcement.
