Tensile deformation behaviour of Zr-based glassy alloys

Abstract

This paper presents a study of the deformation behaviour of a glassy phase in two Zr-based alloys, Zr₆₅Ni₁₀Cu₅Al_7.5Pd_12.5 and Zr₆₅Al_7.5Ni₁₀Pd_17.5, performed in situ in a transmission electron microscope. In contrast to the case of shear localisation and formation of 10–20 nm thick shear bands in deformed bulk glassy samples studied earlier, it is found that in thin (electron-transparent) samples the glassy phase in front of a crack deforms more homogeneously and no nanocrystallisation takes place. The reasons for such behaviour are discussed. According to the observed results, one can conclude that the studied metallic glasses can be intrinsically ductile in submicrometre-sized volumes.

Keywords:

• glassy alloy
• deformation
• electron microscopy
• shear
• crack

Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by the Research and Development Project on Advanced Metallic Glasses, Inorganic Materials and Joining Technology as well as by Grant-in-Aid ‘Priority Area on Science and Technology of Microwave-Induced, Thermally Non-Equilibrium Reaction Field’ No: 18070001 from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.