Short-range structure of Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 glass prepared by shock wave

Abstract

Short-range structure of a Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass prepared by shock-wave treatment was investigated by x-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation with a wavelength of 0.112 71 Å. The radial distribution function was obtained from S(Q) with a large Q value up to 20 Å−1. The oscillation in S(Q) of the glass definitely persists up to Q∼14 Å−1. The shoulder on the high Q side of the second peak is observed in the bulk glass. It is found that the glass has higher coordination numbers in the range of r∼2.4–5.6 Å and lower numbers in the range of r∼5.6–9.5 Å than those for a water-quenched glass while the shell distances are similar in both glasses prepared by shock-wave and water-quenching methods. In the shock-waved glass, atomic configurations in the first, fourth, or fifth coordination shells are modified, i.e., atoms are packed denser in the first two coordination shells and less (or more free volume) in the third and fourth coordination shells as compared to those for the water-quenched glass. This atomic configuration for shock-waved glass might have different physical properties.