Investigation of elastic deformation mechanism in as-cast and annealed eutectic and hypoeutectic Zr-Cu-Al metallic glasses by multiscale strain analysis

Suzuki, Hiroshi  ; Yamada, Rui*; Tsubaki, Shinki*; Imafuku, Muneyuki*; Sato, Shigeo*; Watanuki, Tetsu; Machida, Akihiko; Saida, Junji*

Elastic deformation behaviors of as-cast and annealed eutectic and hypoeutectic Zr-Cu-Al bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) were investigated on a basis of different strain-scales determined by X-ray scattering and the strain gauge. The microscopic strains determined by Direct-space method (DSM) and Q-space method (QSM) were compared with the macroscopic strain measured by the strain gauge, and the difference in the deformation mechanism between eutectic and hypoeutectic Zr-Cu-Al BMGs was investigated by their correlation. The eutectic ZrCuAl BMG obtains more homogeneous microstructure by free-volume annihilation after annealing, improving a resistance to deformation but degrading ductility because of a decrease in the volume fraction of WBRs (Weakly-Bonded Regions) with relatively high mobility. On the other hand, the as-cast hypoeutectic ZrCuAl BMG originally has homogeneous microstructure, but loses its structural and elastic homogeneities because of nanocluster formation after annealing. Such structural changes after annealing might develop unique mechanical properties showing no degradations of ductility and toughness for the structural-relaxed hypoeutectic BMGs.