liquidmetal

Liquidmetal is a brand name for a family of amorphous metal alloys marketed by Liquidmetal Technologies. These materials are bulk metallic glasses, meaning they lack the crystalline structure found in conventional metals. They are typically zirconium-based and contain a mix of elements such as copper, nickel, titanium, aluminum, and others, engineered to form a glassy solid when cooled from liquid.

The amorphous structure gives liquidmetal alloys a combination of high strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance, along with a relatively high elastic limit. They can be shaped into complex, near-net-shape parts using forming methods such as injection molding, die casting, and other rapid-processing techniques. However, they can be brittle under certain conditions and are sensitive to heat; heating above their glass transition temperature can trigger crystallization, which degrades performance.

Applications for liquidmetal alloys have included consumer electronics housings, watches, sports equipment, dental tools, medical devices, and some aerospace components. Despite favorable properties, widespread use has been tempered by factors such as material cost, specialized processing requirements, and limitations in ductility and long-term performance at elevated temperatures.

Overview and status: Liquidmetal represents a class of amorphous metal alloys rather than a single compound. Development originated from research into bulk metallic glasses in the late 20th century, with commercialization efforts to license the technology to manufacturers. The brand has influenced materials research and product design by illustrating how metallic glasses can enable complex, high-precision parts, even as practical adoption remains selective due to economic and processing considerations.