Effect of the Compositional Modulation on the Plasticity of Amorphous Alloys: Shear Localization Viewpoint Interpretation

Abstract

Experiments have demonstrated that a moderate amount of Be added to Zr57.5Cu38.3Al4.2 amorphous alloy enhances the plasticity of the alloy. In particular, Zr54Cu36Al4Be6 alloy exhibited 19% of strain to fracture along with a strength exceeding 2 GPa. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy conducted on the Zr54Cu36Al4Be6 alloy exhibited the presence of compositional modulation, indicating that nm-scale phase separation had occurred at local regions. In this study, the role played by the nm-scale phase separation on the plasticity was investigated in terms of structural disordering, structural softening and shear localization in order to better understand the structural origin of the enhanced plasticity shown by the developed alloy.