METALLIC MIRRORS FORMED FROM AMORPHOUS ALLOYS
Metallic mirrors made of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys, the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys providing ruggedness, lightweight structure, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost manufacturing, and methods of making such metallic mirrors from such bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are provided.
1 . A metallic mirror comprising at least one reflective surface made of a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy.
2 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is flat.
3 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is curved.
4 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface further comprises a deposited dielectric coating layer.
5 . The metallic mirror of claim 4 , wherein reflective surface further comprises a deposited coating layer comprised of one or more of noble metals.
6 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti)a(Ni, Cu, Fe)b(Be, Al, Si, B)c, wherein “a” is in the range of from 30 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 60, and “c” is in the range of from 0 to 50 in atomic percentages.
7 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti)a(Ni, Cu)b(Be)c, wherein “a” is in the range of from 40 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 50, and “c” is in the range of from 5 to 50 in atomic percentages.
8 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous alloy can sustain strains up to 1.5% or more without any permanent deformation or breakage.
9 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous alloy amorphous alloy has a ΔT of 60° C. or greater.
10 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous alloy has a hardness of 7.5 Gpa and higher.
11 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface has a surface smoothness of less than about 3 nm rms.
12 . The metallic mirror of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface has a surface smoothness of less than about 1 nm rms.
13 . A metallic mirror system comprising:
a reflective surface; and
a support structure, wherein at least one of the components the mirror system is made of a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy.
14 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the reflective surface and the support structure are a single integral structure made of a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy.
15 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the reflective surface and the support structure comprise separate pieces, each made of a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy, that are joined together into a single integral structure.
16 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the amorphous alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti)a(Ni, Cu, Fe)b(Be, Al, Si, B)c, wherein “a” is in the range of from 30 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 60, and “c” is in the range of from 0 to 50 in atomic percentages.
17 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the amorphous alloy is described by the following molecular formula: (Zr, Ti)a(Ni, Cu)b(Be)c, wherein “a” is in the range of from 40 to 75, “b” is in the range of from 5 to 50, and “c” is in the range of from 5 to 50 in atomic percentages.
18 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the amorphous alloy can sustain strains up to 1.5% or more without any permanent deformation or breakage.
19 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the amorphous alloy has a high fracture toughness of at least 20 ksi-in 0.5 .
20 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the amorphous alloy amorphous alloy has a ΔT of 60° C. or greater.
21 . The metallic mirror system of claim 13 , wherein the reflective surface has a surface smoothness of less than about 1 nm rms.
22 . A method of making metallic mirrors of bulk solidifying amorphous alloy, comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet feedstock of a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy being in a substantially amorphous state, and having an elastic strain limit of about 1.5% or greater and having a ΔT of 30° C. or greater;
heating the feedstock to around the glass transition temperature of the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy;
shaping the heated feedstock into a desired mirror shape; and
cooling the formed mirror to temperatures far below the glass transition temperature.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the ΔT of the amorphous alloy is greater than 90° C.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the elastic strain limit of the amorphous alloy is substantially preserved during processing to be not less than 1.5%.
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising a finishing process selected from the group consisting of oxide removal, chemical etching, buffing, and polishing.
26 . A method of making metallic mirrors of bulk solidifying amorphous alloy, comprising the steps of:
providing a homogeneous alloy feedstock of a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy in either an amorphous or non-amorphous state;
heating the feedstock to a casting temperature above the melting temperature of the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy;
introducing the molten alloy into a shape-forming mold; and
quenching the molten alloy to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the amorphous alloy has a ΔT of greater than 60° C.
28 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising a finishing process selected from the group consisting of oxide removal, chemical etching, buffing, and polishing.