Fractal atomic-level percolation in metallic glasses

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aab1233
• Publication Date: 2015-09-18T05:49:19Z
• Authors: David Z. Chen; Crystal Y. Shi; Qi An; Qiaoshi Zeng; Wendy L. Mao; William A. Goddard; Julia R. Greer
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 551; 0210 nano-technology; 530

Percolating cluster, factal structure

Metallic glasses are appealing materials because they are strong and can bend without breaking. These materials are disordered but possess none of the defects seen in crystalline counterparts. Chen et al. developed a model for metallic glasses in which clusters of atoms float free in the liquid, begin to jam, and finally organize into a short-range fractal structure below the glass transition temperature. This model also accounted for the density and high strength characteristics of bulk samples.

Science , this issue p. 1306