Feb 18 2014
Materion Corporation today announced that, following three years of product development, its Beryllium and Composites business has introduced a bulk metallic glass (BMG) alloy product line. These zirconium-based alloys, which are often known as Vitreloy, or Liquidmetal® alloys, – Vit1b, Vit105, Vit601, and Vit106a – are now available from Materion in volume quantities.
BMGs are amorphous alloys derived from unique alloy combinations whose disparate atoms retain a random structure when they solidify, in contrast to the crystalline atomic structure that forms in ordinary metals and alloys. As a result, a BMG alloy can be formed into a finished product as if it were a plastic.
Amorphous alloys have unique properties, including very high specific strength (often twice that of titanium and stainless steel), relatively high hardness (>50 Rc), high elastic range (~2%), and unparalleled corrosion resistance. The amorphous surface has an appealing but rugged finish that is attractive for a variety of consumer product applications. In addition, amorphous alloys will often enable lower production costs because they require fewer steps than other metal-forming processes.
According to Lawrence Ryczek, Vice-President and General Manager of Materion Beryllium and Composites, “Materion has a long heritage of selling high-quality, certified alloys into defense, aerospace, automotive and consumer markets. Our technology team has worked hard to scale production, while maintaining quality, to be the global leader in providing these exceptional alloys. We will continue to look for opportunities to expand this market and further develop metallic glass technology.”
Rancho Santa Margarita, California-based Liquidmetal Technologies, Inc. (OTC: LQMT) is a leading developer of bulk metallic glass technology. Materion is a Certified Liquidmetal Partner (CLP) for the production of BMGs. Materion’s BMG alloys are also available for Liquidmetal and its licensees under their respective Liquidmetal alloy trade names, LM1b, LM105, LM601, and LM106a.
Materion Corporation is headquartered in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, supplies highly engineered advanced enabling materials to global markets. Products include precious and non-precious specialty metals, inorganic chemicals and powders, specialty coatings, specialty engineered beryllium and non-beryllium alloys, beryllium and beryllium composites, and engineered clad and plated metal systems.