Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) exhibit high strength and hardness due to their amorphous atomic structure; however, their wider application is often limited by intrinsic brittleness and localized shear deformation. Metallic glass matrix composites (MGMCs) represent an effective approach to overcome these limitations by introducing crystalline phases into the amorphous matrix, thereby improving mechanical stability and deformation behavior. In this study, an Fe-based MGMC was produced by copper mold casting and its micro-structure and mechanical properties were investigated. Microstructural observations revealed a heterogeneous structure consisting of an amorphous matrix with dispersed crystalline phases, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction showing a broad amorphous halo with superimposed crystalline peaks. The mechanical response was evaluated using Vickers microhardness measurements under different indentation loads, revealing a pronounced indentation size effect (ISE), where hardness decreases with increasing load and stabilizes at higher loads. The load–indentation relationship follows Meyer’s law with the empirical relation P = 0.663d1.9245 and an excellent correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9996). The Meyer index n ＜ 2 confirms normal ISE behavior. The indentation data were further analyzed using proportional specimen resistance (PSR) and modified PSR models, enabling estimation of the load-independent hardness and providing insight into the deformation behavior of the composite material.
Radumilo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.