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Atomistic free-volume zones and inelastic deformation of metallic glasses

Nature Materials volume 9, pages 619–623 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

The amorphous nature of metallic glasses and their mechanical properties make them interesting for structural applications. However, the interplay between the nature of atomic structures in metallic glasses and mechanical properties remains poorly understood. In this study, high-frequency dynamic micropillar tests have been used to probe both atomic clusters and flow defects in metallic glasses. We show that loosely bonded atomistic free-volume zones that are enveloped elastically by tightly bonded atomic clusters show a deformation character similar to supercooled liquids. At room temperature, the effective viscosity of these free-volume zones is of the order of 1×108 Pa s before the occurrence of shear banding. The confined liquid-like deformation of free-volume zones leads to significant mechanical hysteresis in micropillars under dynamic loading, providing important insight into how atomistic structural features affect the deformation behaviours in metallic glasses in the apparent elastic regime. The inelastic behaviour also serves as the basis for the superior damping resistance of metallic glasses.

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Figure 1: The structural characterization of the as-cast metallic-glass sample and the typical geometry of the micropillar prepared for dynamic micropillar tests.
Figure 2: The experimental results of the dynamical micropillar tests showing the mechanical hysteresis developed at high stress rates.
Figure 3: The experimental results of the dynamical micropillar tests showing the phase lag between the load and displacement signals.
Figure 4: The structural origin of the nanoscale inelasticity conceived from the dynamical micropillar tests and the measurements of the mechanical properties of the constituent atomic structures.
Figure 5: Schematic of the potential energy landscape for a metallic glass.

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Acknowledgements

Y.Y. acknowledges financial support provided by the Research Grant Council (RGC), the Hong Kong Government, with grant number PolyU5203/08E. J.L. is also grateful to RGC for the financial support of grant number PolyU7/CRF/08. C.T.L. is supported by PolyU internal financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    J. C. Ye, J. Lu, C. T. Liu, Q. Wang & Y. Yang

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  1. J. C. Ye
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  2. J. Lu
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Contributions

C.T.L., J.L. and Y.Y. designed experiments, analysed data and wrote the Letter. J.C.Y. carried out all dynamical microcompression experiments and analysed data. Q.W. carried out all transmission electron microscopy imaging experiments.

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Correspondence to Y. Yang.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Ye, J., Lu, J., Liu, C. et al. Atomistic free-volume zones and inelastic deformation of metallic glasses. Nature Mater 9, 619–623 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2802

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