Defect Analyses of Deformed Zr-Cu-Ni-Al Bulk Metallic Glasses

Abstract

In Zr-Cu-Ni-Al bulk metallic glasses where there are no dislocations, localized plastic deformation in shear bands occurs largely by the formation and migration of defects such as voids, micropores, shear bands and local variations in composition. Thus, the investigation on defects is critical for the understanding and improvement of plastic deformation in metallic glasses. In this study, microstructures and nano defects in the Zr-Cu-Ni-Al BMGs are characterized by variety of techniques, such as X-ray diffractometry, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron holography.