Structural and stress state dependence of small-scale deformation in bulk metallic glass

Abstract

Bulk Metallic Glasses (BMGs) are attractive for myriad structural applications at multiple length scales (nano-micro-macro) but show limited bulk plasticity due to the tendency for shear localization. However, there is limited understanding of the effect of structural state and stress state on the small-scale deformation behavior of BMGs. Here, the micro-scale deformation behavior of a model Ni-based BMG was studied in as-cast and corresponding relaxed state under multiaxial nano-indentation, uniaxial micro-pillar compression, and micro-cantilever beam bending. The relaxed BMG showed 6 % higher hardness, 22 % higher yield strength, and 26 % higher bending strength compared to its as-cast counterpart. The increase in hardness, yield strength, and bending strength for the relaxed alloy compared to its as-cast counterpart demonstrates the relation of intrinsic free volume present in a BMG to its resistance for initiation of plastic events at this scale. Both the as-cast and corresponding relaxed samples showed stable notch opening and blunting during micro-cantilever bending tests rather than unstable crack propagation. However, pronounced notch weakening was observed for both the structural states, with the bending strength lower by ∼ 25 % for the notched samples compared to the un-notched samples. This work may stimulate further investigations into the deformation behavior of BMGs in response to complex stress states pertinent to real-world structural applications at small scale.