Crystalline vs. Amorphous

These unique metallic structures differ significantly from the crystalline metals used since the beginning of recorded history. The differences between amorphous alloys and crystalline alloys generally cannot be seen by the naked eye. The most significant differences are the defects in crystalline metals that are not found in amorphous alloys.

In the Crystalline Structure

Vacancies can collect and form voids within the material. Dislocations are the source of movement under load that prevent crystalline alloys from achieving the theoretical strength inherent in an atom-to-atom bond. Boundaries are very active in relation to surface energy and promote corrosion and/or chemical reaction such as oxidation and sulfidation.


In the Amorphous Structure

Amorphous alloy coatings form a structure very different from crystalline alloy coatings. In the amorphous structure, atoms are randomly placed in a continuous coating, obviating the corrosion-path grain boundaries. The lack of dislocations leads to favorable wear resistance to abrasive particles and metal-to-metal contact, non work-hardening, machineability and, together with the lack of boundaries, leads to a low coefficient of friction, near theoretical strength (and hardness) and outstanding resistance to cavitation. The lack of boundaries leads to improved corrosion resistance and resistance to reaction at elevated temperature (oxidation, sulfidation).

Liquidmetal^®-Armacor^TM Coatings described on this website are proprietary alloy steels. Like stainless steels, Liquidmetal^® alloys are iron-based. Unlike typical stainless steels, Liquidmetal Coatings alloys offer an amorphous, or amorphous/nanocrystaline, surface structure.

This unique surface is created by frictional wear that transforms the alloys from crystalline to amorphous amorphous/nanocrystaline. This metamorphic transformed layer is maintained throughout the life of the coating.

The amorphous structure provides Liquidmetal Coatings with a unique combination of attributes to combat elevated temperature corrosion and erosion. Wear capabilities are enhanced because, unlike crystalline materials, amorphous products have no grain boundaries, dislocations or lattice defects to detract from their natural strength.

Benefits of Amorphous Materials:

• Superior bond strengths without the use of bond coat
• Withstands repeated thermal cycling
• Excellent hardness at elevated temperatures
• Excellent thermal conductivity
• Application via twin wire arc spray at 25lbs./hour
• Hardness exceeding all other sprayable wires
• Maintain pressure part systems on-site avoiding high replacement costs
• Hard wear surface with tough fracture resistant sub-structure