Systems and methods for drawing high aspect ratio metallic glass-based materials

A method of drawing a high aspect ratio metallic glass-based material comprising:

• providing a preform of a metallic glass-based feedstock material;
• heating portions of the preform of the metallic glass-based feedstock material sequentially through at least three consecutive thermal processing regions such that different portions of the preform are exposed to different thermal processing regions simultaneously;
• wherein:
• in a first thermal processing region, at least one pre-heated portion of the preform of the metallic glass-based feedstock material is heated to a temperature at around the glass transition temperature of the metallic glass-based feedstock material;
• in a second thermal processing region, at least one heated portion of the preform of the metallic glass-based feedstock material having passed through the first thermal processing region is heated to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the metallic glass-based feedstock material;
• in a third thermal processing region, at least one post-heated portion of the metallic glass-based material having passed through the first and second thermal processing regions is controllably reduced to a temperature around the glass transition temperature of the metallic glass-based feedstock material;
• drawing an elongated high aspect ratio metallic glass-based object from the at least one post-heated portion of the metallic glass-based feedstock material by applying a tensile force thereto, wherein the tensile force is sufficient to cause the post-heated portion of the metallic glass-based feedstock material to yield and stretch longitudinally such that the cross-sectional area of the at least one post-heated portion of the metallic glass-based feedstock material is reduced along the longitudinal length thereof;
• and
• wherein the metallic glass-based material retains an amorphous structure throughout its exposure to the three consecutive thermal processing regions.