Mechanical annealing in the homogeneous deformation of bulk metallic glass under elastostatic compression

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2015.02.015
• Publication Date: 2015-02-24T19:18:16Z
• Authors: Y.M. Wang; M. Zhang; L. Liu
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Elastostatic compression test on Zr60.14Cu22.31Fe4.85Al9.7Ag3 bulk metallic glass (BMG) is conducted at 90% of yielding strength at room temperature. Homogeneous deformation with 0.48% plastic strain is achieved after holding for 5 days. The deformed BMG shows decreased relaxation enthalpy and increased critical shear stress, yield strength and density under elastostatic compression, namely a mechanical annealing effect. This phenomenon is rationalized in terms of the atomic level stress theory and the coalescence of negative and positive free volume.