Misplaced Pages

Liquidmetal: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 06:16, 28 April 2015 edit125.187.31.16 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Latest revision as of 15:58, 3 January 2025 edit undoDominic 41 (talk | contribs)28 edits →Uses: Made it say that amorphous metals "...ous metals could replace dep..." instead of "...ous metals replace dep...". Saying "rods made of..." was redundant since that's the usual form of KEPs.Tag: Visual edit 
(83 intermediate revisions by 61 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Amorphous metal alloy brand associated with Caltech}}
{{distinguish|liquid metal}} {{Distinguish|liquid metal}}
⚫ {{Refimprove|date=October 2008}}<!-- cites from independent reliable sources also needed -->
{{More citations needed|date=October 2008}}
⚫ ]<!-- cites from independent reliable sources also needed -->


'''Liquidmetal''' and '''Vitreloy''' are commercial names of a series of ] ]s developed by a ] (Caltech) research team and marketed by '''Liquidmetal Technologies'''. Liquidmetal alloys combine a number of desirable material features, including high ], excellent ], very high ] and excellent anti-wearing characteristics, while also being able to be heat-formed in processes similar to ]s. Despite the name, they are not liquid at room temperature.<ref>liquidmetal.com. . Retrieved 2008-10-23 {{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> '''Liquidmetal''' and '''Vitreloy''' are commercial names of a series of ] ]s developed by a ] (Caltech) research team and marketed by '''Liquidmetal Technologies'''. Liquidmetal alloys combine a number of desirable material features, including high ], excellent ], very high ] and excellent anti-wearing characteristics, while also being able to be heat-formed in processes similar to ]s. Despite the name, they are not liquid at room temperature.<ref>{{Cite web |work=liquidmetal.com |url=http://coatings.liquidmetal.com/our.material.asp |title=Liquidmetal Coatings Material |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131225945/http://coatings.liquidmetal.com/our.material.asp |archive-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref>


Liquidmetal was introduced for commercial applications in 2003.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} It is used for, among other things, ]s, ]es and covers of ]s. Liquidmetal was introduced for commercial applications in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Herrman |first=John |date=2010-08-17 |title=Giz Explains: What Is Liquidmetal? |url=https://gizmodo.com/giz-explains-what-is-liquidmetal-5614154 |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref> It is used for, among other things, ]s, ]es, and covers of ]s.


The alloy was the end result of a research program into amorphous metals carried out at Caltech. It was the first of a series of experimental alloys that could achieve an amorphous structure at relatively slow cooling rates.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Amorphous metals had been made before, but only in small batches because cooling rates needed to be in the millions of degrees per second. For example, amorphous wires could be fabricated by ] a stream of molten metal on a spinning disk. Because Vitreloy allowed such slow cooling rates, production of larger batch sizes was possible. More recently, a number of additional alloys have been added to the Liquidmetal portfolio. These alloys also retain their amorphous structure after repeated re-heating, allowing them to be used in a wide variety of traditional machining processes.So the Liquidmetal can be looked like soft and fleecy. The alloy was the result of a research program into amorphous metals carried out at Caltech. It was the first of a series of experimental alloys that could achieve an amorphous structure at relatively slow cooling rates.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}} Amorphous metals had been made before, but only in small batches because cooling rates needed to be in the millions of degrees per second. For example, amorphous wires could be fabricated by ] a stream of molten metal on a spinning disk. Because Vitreloy allowed such slow cooling rates, production of larger batch sizes was possible. More recently, a number of additional alloys have been added to the Liquidmetal portfolio. These alloys also retain their amorphous structure after repeated re-heating, allowing them to be used in a wide variety of traditional machining processes.


==Characteristics== ==Characteristics==
Liquidmetal alloys contain atoms of significantly different sizes. They form a dense mix with low free volume. Unlike crystalline metals, there is no obvious melting point at which viscosity drops suddenly. Vitreloy behaves more like other ]es, in that its viscosity drops gradually with increased temperature. At high temperature, it behaves in a plastic manner, allowing the mechanical properties to be controlled relatively easily during casting. The viscosity prevents the atoms moving enough to form an ordered lattice, so the material retains its amorphous properties even after being heat-formed. Liquidmetal, created by Dr. Atakan Peker, contain atoms of significantly different sizes. They form a dense mix with low free volume. Unlike crystalline metals, there is no obvious melting point at which viscosity drops suddenly. Vitreloy behaves more like other ]es, in that its viscosity drops gradually with increased temperature. At high temperature, it behaves in a plastic manner, allowing the mechanical properties to be controlled relatively easily during casting. The viscosity prevents the atoms moving enough to form an ordered lattice, so the material retains its amorphous properties even after being heat-formed.


The alloys have relatively low softening temperatures, allowing casting of complicated shapes without need for finishing. The material properties immediately after casting are much better than those of conventional metals; usually, cast metals have worse properties than forged or wrought ones. The alloys are also malleable at low temperatures ({{convert|400|°C|disp=or}} for the earliest formulation), and can be ]. The low free volume also results in low shrinkage during cooling. For all of these reasons, Liquidmetal can be formed into complex shapes using processes similar to thermoplastics,<ref>, Manufacturing Engineering, March 2003 {{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> which makes Liquidmetal a potential replacement for many applications where plastics would normally be used. The alloys have relatively low softening temperatures, allowing casting of complex shapes without needing finishing. The material properties immediately after casting are much better than those of conventional metals; usually, cast metals have worse properties than forged or wrought ones. The alloys are also malleable at low temperatures ({{convert|400|°C|disp=or}} for the earliest formulation), and can be ]. The low free volume also results in low shrinkage during cooling. For all of these reasons, Liquidmetal can be formed into complex shapes using processes similar to thermoplastics,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3618/is_200303/ai_n9214729 |title=Liquid metal behaves like plastic |work=Manufacturing Engineering |date=March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051206050731/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3618/is_200303/ai_n9214729 |archive-date=2005-12-06}}</ref> which makes Liquidmetal a potential replacement for many applications where plastics would normally be used.


Due to their non-crystalline (]) structures, Liquidmetals are harder than alloys of ] or ] of similar composition. The zirconium and titanium based Liquidmetal alloys achieved ] of over 1723 MPa, nearly twice the strength of conventional crystalline titanium alloys (Ti6Al4V is ~830 MPa), and about the strength of high-strength steels and some highly engineered bulk ]s (see ] for a list of common materials). However, the early casting methods introduced microscopic flaws that were excellent sites for crack propagation which led to Vitreloy being fragile like glass. Although strong, these early batches shattered easily when struck. Newer casting methods, adjustments of the alloy mixtures and other changes have improved this.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} Due to their non-crystalline (]) structures, Liquidmetals are harder than alloys of ] or ] of similar composition. The zirconium and titanium based Liquidmetal alloys achieved ] of over 1723&nbsp;MPa, nearly twice the strength of conventional crystalline titanium alloys ({{chem|Ti|6|Al|4|V}} is ~830&nbsp;MPa), and about the strength of high-strength steels and some highly engineered bulk ]s (see ] for a list of common materials). However, the early casting methods introduced microscopic flaws that were excellent sites for crack propagation which led to Vitreloy being fragile like glass. Although strong, these early batches shattered easily when struck. Newer casting methods, adjustments of the alloy mixtures and other changes have improved this.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}


The lack of grain boundaries contribute to the high yield strength (and thereby resilience) exhibited. In a demonstration, a ball bearing dropped on amorphous steel bounced significantly longer than the same bearing dropped on crystalline steel.<ref>{{YouTube|RAQIioLteuM|Official Liquidmetal Ball Bouncer Demonstration}}</ref> The lack of grain boundaries contributes to the high yield strength (and thereby resilience) exhibited. In a demonstration, a metal sphere dropped on amorphous steel bounced significantly longer than the same metal sphere dropped on crystalline steel.<ref>{{YouTube|RAQIioLteuM|Official Liquidmetal Ball Bouncer Demonstration}}</ref>


The lack of grain boundaries in a metallic glass eliminates grain-boundary corrosion &mdash; a common problem in high-strength alloys produced by precipitation hardening and sensitized stainless steels. Liquidmetal alloys are therefore generally more corrosion resistant, both due to the mechanical structure as well as the elements used in its alloy. The combination of mechanical hardness, high elasticity and corrosion resistance makes Liquidmetal wear resistant. The lack of grain boundaries in a metallic glass eliminates grain-boundary corrosion&mdash;a common problem in high-strength alloys produced by precipitation hardening and sensitized stainless steels. Liquidmetal alloys are therefore generally more corrosion resistant, both due to the mechanical structure as well as the elements used in its alloy. The combination of mechanical hardness, high elasticity and corrosion resistance makes Liquidmetal wear resistant.


Although at high temperatures, ] occurs easily, almost none occurs at room temperature before the onset of ]. This limits the material's applicability in reliability-critical applications, as the impending failure is not evident. The material is also susceptible to metal fatigue with crack growth. A two-phase composite structure with amorphous matrix and a ductile dendritic crystalline-phase reinforcement, or a ] reinforced with fibers of other material can reduce or eliminate this disadvantage.<ref>, Materials Today, March 2004 {{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> Although at high temperatures, ] occurs easily, almost none occurs at room temperature before the onset of ]. This limits the material's applicability in reliability-critical applications, as the impending failure is not evident. The material is also susceptible to metal fatigue with crack growth. A two-phase composite structure with amorphous matrix and a ductile dendritic crystalline-phase reinforcement, or a ] reinforced with fibers of other material can reduce or eliminate this disadvantage.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Telford |first=Mark |date=March 2004 |title=The case for bulk metallic glass |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1369702104001245 |journal=Materials Today |language=en |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=36–43 |doi=10.1016/S1369-7021(04)00124-5|doi-access=free }}</ref>


==Uses== ==Uses==
Liquidmetal combines a number of features that are normally not found in any one material. This makes them useful in a wide variety of applications. Liquidmetal combines a number of features that are normally not found in any one material. This makes them useful in a wide variety of applications.


One of the first commercial uses of Liquidmetal was in golf clubs made by the company, where the highly elastic metal was used in portions of the club face.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Liquid Golf |first=Jim |last=Gorant |journal=] |date=July 1998 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212183023/http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283186.html}}</ref> These were highly rated by users, but the product was later dropped, in part because the prototypes shattered after fewer than 40 hits.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013173813/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18624931.000 | title=Metallic glass: A drop of the hard stuff | date=2005-04-02 | author=Catherine Zandonella | publisher=] no. 2493 | accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> Since then, Liquidmetal has appeared in other sports equipment, including the cores of ]s, Head ]s, Rawlings ] and ], and Head ]s.<ref> - discussion of Liquidmetal golf clubs</ref> One of the first commercial uses of Liquidmetal was in golf clubs made by the company, where the highly elastic metal was used in portions of the club face.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Liquid Golf |first=Jim |last=Gorant |journal=] |date=July 1998 |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283186.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212183023/http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283186.html |archivedate=December 12, 2006}}</ref> These were highly rated by users, but the product was later dropped, in part because the prototypes shattered after fewer than 40 hits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18624931.000 |title=Metallic glass: A drop of the hard stuff |date=2005-04-02 |author=Catherine Zandonella |publisher=] no. 2493 |accessdate=2013-06-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022012246/http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18624931.000 |archivedate=October 22, 2012}}</ref> Since then, Liquidmetal has appeared in other sports equipment, including the cores of ]s, ]s, ] and ], and ]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liquidmetal's latest portfolio gets solid reviews - PGATOUR.COM |url=http://www.golfweb.com/u/ce/multi/0,1977,6667479,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031001222447/http://www.golfweb.com/u/ce/multi/0,1977,6667479,00.html |archive-date=2003-10-01 }}</ref>


The ability to be cast and molded, combined with high ] resistance, has also led to Liquidmetal being used as a replacement for ]s in some applications.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} It has been used on the casing of late-model ] "Cruzer Titanium" ]s as well as their ] line of ]-based ], and casings of some ]s, like the luxury ] products, and other toughened consumer electronics.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} Liquidmetal was used in the Biolase dental laser Ilase and the Socketmobile ring bar code scanner. Liquidmetal has also notably been used for making the SIM ejector tool of some ] 3Gs made by ], shipped in the US. This was done by Apple as an exercise to test the viability of usage of the metal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/08/17/liquidmetal_created_sim_ejector_tool_for_apples_iphone_ipad.html |title=Liquidmetal created SIM ejector tool for Apple's iPhone, iPad |publisher=Appleinsider.com |date=2010-08-17 |accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> They retain a scratch-free surface longer than competing materials, while still being made in complex shapes. The same qualities lend it to be used as protective coatings for industrial machinery, including ] ] and ] ].{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} The ability to be cast and molded, combined with high ] resistance, has also led to Liquidmetal being used as a replacement for ]s in some applications.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When it comes to churning out electrons, metal glass beats plastics |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111121104155.htm |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=ScienceDaily |language=en}}</ref> It has been used on the casing of late-model ] "Cruzer Titanium" ]s as well as their ] line of ]-based ], and casings of some ]s, like the luxury ] products, and other toughened consumer electronics.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} Liquidmetal was used in the Biolase dental laser Ilase<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.biolase.com/products/dental-lasers-soft-tissue/ilase/ |title=Biolase Dental Laser ILASE® |date=20 November 2018 |website=Biolase}}</ref> and the Socketmobile ring bar code scanner. Liquidmetal has also notably been used for making the SIM ejector tool of some ] 3Gs made by ], shipped in the US. This was done by Apple as an exercise to test the viability of usage of the metal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/08/17/liquidmetal_created_sim_ejector_tool_for_apples_iphone_ipad.html |title=Liquidmetal created SIM ejector tool for Apple's iPhone, iPad |publisher=Appleinsider.com |date=2010-08-17 |accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> They retain a scratch-free surface longer than competing materials, while still being made in complex shapes. The same qualities lend it to use as protective coatings for industrial machinery, including ] ] and ] ].{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}


It also replaces titanium in applications ranging from medical instruments and cars to the military and aerospace industry. In military applications, rods of amorphous metals replace ] in ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323060333/http://www.liquidmetal.com/applications/defense-applications/|title=Defense and Tactical Applications|publisher=Liquidmetal Technologies|accessdate=2012-05-24}} </ref> Plates of Liquidmetal were used in the ] ] collector array in the ].{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} It also replaces titanium in applications ranging from medical instruments and cars to the military and aerospace industry. In military applications, amorphous metals could replace ] in ]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liquidmetal.com/applications/defense-applications/ |title=Defense and Tactical Applications |publisher=Liquidmetal Technologies |accessdate=2012-05-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323060333/http://www.liquidmetal.com/applications/defense-applications/ |archivedate=March 23, 2013}}</ref> Plates of Liquidmetal were used in the ] ] collector array in the ].{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}}

Although Liquidmetal has very high strength and an excellent ], its commercial success as a structural material may be limited.{{Citation needed|date=December 2010}} Work continues on amorphous iron-based alloys that would combine at least some of the advantages of Liquidmetal with even greater strength, estimated to be two to three times the strength of the best steels made today. This would give such an alloy a strength to weight ratio that would easily beat the best lightweight materials such as ] and titanium, and be much less expensive than composites.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}


==Commercial alloys== ==Commercial alloys==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2012}}
A range of ]-based alloys have been marketed under this trade name. Some example compositions are listed below, in molar percent: A range of ]-based alloys have been marketed under this trade name. Some example compositions are listed below, in molar percent:
* An early alloy, ''Vitreloy 1'':<ref>{{cite journal|last=Demetriou|first=Marios D|author2=Johnson, William L |title=Shear flow characteristics and crystallization kinetics during steady non-isothermal flow of Vitreloy-1|journal=Acta Materialia|date=12 July 2004|volume=52|issue=12|pages=3403–3412|doi=10.1016/j.actamat.2004.03.034|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2004.03.034|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> * An early alloy, ''Vitreloy 1'':<ref>{{cite journal |last=Demetriou |first=Marios D |author2=Johnson, William L |title=Shear flow characteristics and crystallization kinetics during steady non-isothermal flow of Vitreloy-1 |journal=Acta Materialia |date=12 July 2004 |volume=52 |issue=12 |pages=3403–3412 |doi=10.1016/j.actamat.2004.03.034 |bibcode=2004AcMat..52.3403D}}</ref>
:{{Zirconium}}: 41.2 {{Beryllium}}: 22.5 {{Titanium}}: 13.8 {{Copper}}: 12.5 {{Nickel}}: 10 *: ]: 41.2, ]: 22.5, ]: 13.8, ]: 12.5, ]: 10
* A variant, ''Vitreloy 4'' (''Vit4''): * A variant, ''Vitreloy 4'' (''Vit4''):
:{{Zirconium}}: 46.75 {{Beryllium}}: 27.5 {{Titanium}}: 8.25 {{Copper}}: 7.5 {{Nickel}}: 10 *: ]: 46.75, ]: 27.5, ]: 8.25, ]: 7.5, ]: 10
* ''Vitreloy 105'' (''Vit105''):<ref>{{cite journal|last=Morrison|first=M.L.|coauthors=R.A. Buchanan, P.K. Law, B.A. Green, G.Y. Wang, C.T. Liu, J.A. Horton|title=Four-point-bending-fatigue behavior of the Zr-based Vitreloy 105 bulk metallic glass|journal=Materials Science and Engineering: A|date=15 October 2007|volume=467|issue=1-2|pages=190–197|doi=10.1016/j.msea.2007.05.066|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2007.05.066|accessdate=2013-06-10}}</ref> * ''Vitreloy 105'' (''Vit105''):<ref>{{cite journal |last=Morrison |first=M.L. |author2=R.A. Buchanan |author3=P.K. Law |author4=B.A. Green |author5=G.Y. Wang |author6=C.T. Liu |author7=J.A. Horton |title=Four-point-bending-fatigue behavior of the Zr-based Vitreloy 105 bulk metallic glass |journal=Materials Science and Engineering: A |date=15 October 2007 |volume=467 |issue=1–2 |pages=190–197 |doi=10.1016/j.msea.2007.05.066}}</ref>
:{{Zirconium}}: 52.5 {{Titanium}}: 5 {{Copper}}: 17.9 {{Nickel}}: 14.6 {{Aluminium}}:10 *: ]: 52.5, ]: 5, ]: 17.9, ]: 14.6, ]: 10
* A more recent development (''Vitreloy 106a''), which forms glass under less rapid cooling: * A more recent development (''Vitreloy 106a''), which forms glass under less rapid cooling:
:{{Zirconium}}: 58.5 {{Copper}}: 15.6 {{Nickel}}: 12.8 {{Aluminium}}: 10.3 {{Niobium}}: 2.8 *: ]: 58.5, ]: 15.6, ]: 12.8, ]: 10.3, ]: 2.8


== Licensed uses== ==Licensed uses==
*], acquired a perpetual, exclusive license to use its technology in consumer electronics.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2012/06/22/apple-locks-in-liquidmetal-for-two-more-years/ | work=Forbes | first=Nigam | last=Arora}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/apple-liquidmetal-license_n_678591.html |title=Huffington Post reports on Apple business interest |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |accessdate=2013-06-10 |date=2010-08-11}}</ref> *], acquired a perpetual, ''exclusive'' license to use the technologies developed after 2010 in consumer electronics.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/23/apple-renews-liquidmetal-rights/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712170638/https://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/23/apple-renews-liquidmetal-rights/ |archive-date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=Feb 18, 2017 |title=Apple Renews Exclusive Rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' Alloys |work=MacRumors}}</ref>
*], was granted an exclusive license to utilize Liquidmetal in its timepieces."''<ref>{{cite web| title= Swatch Group signs Exclusive License Agreement with Liquidmetal Technologies| url= http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/services/archive/2011/swatch_group_signs_exclusive_license_agreement_with_liquidmetal_technologies | date= March 10, 2011 | publisher= The Swatch Group| work= Press release| accessdate=2013-06-10|quote= Liquidmetal Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: LQMT) and The Swatch Group Ltd (SIX: Uhr / Uhr N) today announced that they have signed an exclusive licensing agreement, allowing the Swiss manufacturer to utilize the Liquidmetal alloy technology worldwide. Within the Swatch Group, the Liquidmetal technology has been used for the first time in 2009 for the ] Planet Ocean, and in 2010 for the ] «Reveil Musical». The present contract will allow the Swatch Group to use the technology exclusively in their entire line of timepieces.}}</ref> *], was granted an exclusive license to utilize Liquidmetal alloys developed after 2010 in its timepieces.''<ref>{{cite web |title=Swatch Group signs Exclusive License Agreement with Liquidmetal Technologies |url=http://www.swatchgroup.com/en/services/archive/2011/swatch_group_signs_exclusive_license_agreement_with_liquidmetal_technologies |date=March 10, 2011 |publisher=The Swatch Group |work=Press release |accessdate=2013-06-10 |quote=Liquidmetal Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: LQMT) and The Swatch Group Ltd (SIX: Uhr / Uhr N) today announced that they have signed an exclusive licensing agreement, allowing the Swiss manufacturer to utilize the Liquidmetal alloy technology worldwide. Within the Swatch Group, the Liquidmetal technology has been used for the first time in 2009 for the ] Planet Ocean, and in 2010 for the ] «Reveil Musical». The present contract will allow the Swatch Group to use the technology exclusively in their entire line of timepieces.}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
Line 52: Line 51:


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* *
* *
* *
*{{Wayback |date=20071210001743 |url=http://www.sciwrite.caltech.edu/journal03/owensmichael.html |title=Caltech article }} *{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210001743/http://www.sciwrite.caltech.edu/journal03/owensmichael.html |date=December 10, 2007 |title=Caltech article}}
* {{dead link|date=June 2013}} *


] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]

Latest revision as of 15:58, 3 January 2025

Amorphous metal alloy brand associated with Caltech Not to be confused with liquid metal.
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Liquidmetal" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
A USB flash drive with a Liquidmetal case.

Liquidmetal and Vitreloy are commercial names of a series of amorphous metal alloys developed by a California Institute of Technology (Caltech) research team and marketed by Liquidmetal Technologies. Liquidmetal alloys combine a number of desirable material features, including high tensile strength, excellent corrosion resistance, very high coefficient of restitution and excellent anti-wearing characteristics, while also being able to be heat-formed in processes similar to thermoplastics. Despite the name, they are not liquid at room temperature.

Liquidmetal was introduced for commercial applications in 2003. It is used for, among other things, golf clubs, watches, and covers of cell phones.

The alloy was the result of a research program into amorphous metals carried out at Caltech. It was the first of a series of experimental alloys that could achieve an amorphous structure at relatively slow cooling rates. Amorphous metals had been made before, but only in small batches because cooling rates needed to be in the millions of degrees per second. For example, amorphous wires could be fabricated by splat quenching a stream of molten metal on a spinning disk. Because Vitreloy allowed such slow cooling rates, production of larger batch sizes was possible. More recently, a number of additional alloys have been added to the Liquidmetal portfolio. These alloys also retain their amorphous structure after repeated re-heating, allowing them to be used in a wide variety of traditional machining processes.

Characteristics

Liquidmetal, created by Dr. Atakan Peker, contain atoms of significantly different sizes. They form a dense mix with low free volume. Unlike crystalline metals, there is no obvious melting point at which viscosity drops suddenly. Vitreloy behaves more like other glasses, in that its viscosity drops gradually with increased temperature. At high temperature, it behaves in a plastic manner, allowing the mechanical properties to be controlled relatively easily during casting. The viscosity prevents the atoms moving enough to form an ordered lattice, so the material retains its amorphous properties even after being heat-formed.

The alloys have relatively low softening temperatures, allowing casting of complex shapes without needing finishing. The material properties immediately after casting are much better than those of conventional metals; usually, cast metals have worse properties than forged or wrought ones. The alloys are also malleable at low temperatures (400 °C or 752 °F for the earliest formulation), and can be molded. The low free volume also results in low shrinkage during cooling. For all of these reasons, Liquidmetal can be formed into complex shapes using processes similar to thermoplastics, which makes Liquidmetal a potential replacement for many applications where plastics would normally be used.

Due to their non-crystalline (amorphous) structures, Liquidmetals are harder than alloys of titanium or aluminum of similar composition. The zirconium and titanium based Liquidmetal alloys achieved yield strength of over 1723 MPa, nearly twice the strength of conventional crystalline titanium alloys (Ti
6Al
4V is ~830 MPa), and about the strength of high-strength steels and some highly engineered bulk composite materials (see tensile strength for a list of common materials). However, the early casting methods introduced microscopic flaws that were excellent sites for crack propagation which led to Vitreloy being fragile like glass. Although strong, these early batches shattered easily when struck. Newer casting methods, adjustments of the alloy mixtures and other changes have improved this.

The lack of grain boundaries contributes to the high yield strength (and thereby resilience) exhibited. In a demonstration, a metal sphere dropped on amorphous steel bounced significantly longer than the same metal sphere dropped on crystalline steel.

The lack of grain boundaries in a metallic glass eliminates grain-boundary corrosion—a common problem in high-strength alloys produced by precipitation hardening and sensitized stainless steels. Liquidmetal alloys are therefore generally more corrosion resistant, both due to the mechanical structure as well as the elements used in its alloy. The combination of mechanical hardness, high elasticity and corrosion resistance makes Liquidmetal wear resistant.

Although at high temperatures, plastic deformation occurs easily, almost none occurs at room temperature before the onset of catastrophic failure. This limits the material's applicability in reliability-critical applications, as the impending failure is not evident. The material is also susceptible to metal fatigue with crack growth. A two-phase composite structure with amorphous matrix and a ductile dendritic crystalline-phase reinforcement, or a metal matrix composite reinforced with fibers of other material can reduce or eliminate this disadvantage.

Uses

Liquidmetal combines a number of features that are normally not found in any one material. This makes them useful in a wide variety of applications.

One of the first commercial uses of Liquidmetal was in golf clubs made by the company, where the highly elastic metal was used in portions of the club face. These were highly rated by users, but the product was later dropped, in part because the prototypes shattered after fewer than 40 hits. Since then, Liquidmetal has appeared in other sports equipment, including the cores of golf balls, skis, baseball and softball bats, and tennis racquets.

The ability to be cast and molded, combined with high wear resistance, has also led to Liquidmetal being used as a replacement for plastics in some applications. It has been used on the casing of late-model SanDisk "Cruzer Titanium" USB flash drives as well as their Sansa line of flash-based MP3 player, and casings of some mobile phones, like the luxury Vertu products, and other toughened consumer electronics. Liquidmetal was used in the Biolase dental laser Ilase and the Socketmobile ring bar code scanner. Liquidmetal has also notably been used for making the SIM ejector tool of some iPhone 3Gs made by Apple Inc., shipped in the US. This was done by Apple as an exercise to test the viability of usage of the metal. They retain a scratch-free surface longer than competing materials, while still being made in complex shapes. The same qualities lend it to use as protective coatings for industrial machinery, including petroleum drill pipes and power plant boiler tubes.

It also replaces titanium in applications ranging from medical instruments and cars to the military and aerospace industry. In military applications, amorphous metals could replace depleted uranium in kinetic energy penetrators. Plates of Liquidmetal were used in the solar wind ion collector array in the Genesis space probe.

Commercial alloys

A range of zirconium-based alloys have been marketed under this trade name. Some example compositions are listed below, in molar percent:

Licensed uses

  • Apple Inc., acquired a perpetual, exclusive license to use the technologies developed after 2010 in consumer electronics.
  • The Swatch Group, was granted an exclusive license to utilize Liquidmetal alloys developed after 2010 in its timepieces.

References

  1. "Liquidmetal Coatings Material". liquidmetal.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009.
  2. Herrman, John (2010-08-17). "Giz Explains: What Is Liquidmetal?". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  3. "Liquid metal behaves like plastic". Manufacturing Engineering. March 2003. Archived from the original on 2005-12-06.
  4. Official Liquidmetal Ball Bouncer Demonstration on YouTube
  5. Telford, Mark (March 2004). "The case for bulk metallic glass". Materials Today. 7 (3): 36–43. doi:10.1016/S1369-7021(04)00124-5.
  6. Gorant, Jim (July 1998). "Liquid Golf". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on December 12, 2006.
  7. Catherine Zandonella (2005-04-02). "Metallic glass: A drop of the hard stuff". New Scientist no. 2493. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  8. "Liquidmetal's latest portfolio gets solid reviews - PGATOUR.COM". Archived from the original on 2003-10-01.
  9. "When it comes to churning out electrons, metal glass beats plastics". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  10. "Biolase Dental Laser ILASE®". Biolase. 20 November 2018.
  11. "Liquidmetal created SIM ejector tool for Apple's iPhone, iPad". Appleinsider.com. 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
  12. "Defense and Tactical Applications". Liquidmetal Technologies. Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  13. Demetriou, Marios D; Johnson, William L (12 July 2004). "Shear flow characteristics and crystallization kinetics during steady non-isothermal flow of Vitreloy-1". Acta Materialia. 52 (12): 3403–3412. Bibcode:2004AcMat..52.3403D. doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2004.03.034.
  14. Morrison, M.L.; R.A. Buchanan; P.K. Law; B.A. Green; G.Y. Wang; C.T. Liu; J.A. Horton (15 October 2007). "Four-point-bending-fatigue behavior of the Zr-based Vitreloy 105 bulk metallic glass". Materials Science and Engineering: A. 467 (1–2): 190–197. doi:10.1016/j.msea.2007.05.066.
  15. "Apple Renews Exclusive Rights to Liquidmetal Technologies' Alloys". MacRumors. Archived from the original on July 12, 2016. Retrieved Feb 18, 2017.
  16. "Swatch Group signs Exclusive License Agreement with Liquidmetal Technologies". Press release. The Swatch Group. March 10, 2011. Retrieved 2013-06-10. Liquidmetal Technologies Inc. (OTCBB: LQMT) and The Swatch Group Ltd (SIX: Uhr / Uhr N) today announced that they have signed an exclusive licensing agreement, allowing the Swiss manufacturer to utilize the Liquidmetal alloy technology worldwide. Within the Swatch Group, the Liquidmetal technology has been used for the first time in 2009 for the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, and in 2010 for the Breguet «Reveil Musical». The present contract will allow the Swatch Group to use the technology exclusively in their entire line of timepieces.

External links

Categories: