Deformation and strain rate sensitivity of a Zr-Cu-Fe-Al metallic glass

► The deformation behaviour of Zr65Cu20Fe5Al10 bulk metallic glass has been studied at room temperature under uniaxial compression. ► From 5 × 10−6 to 5 × 10−3 s−1 the alloy does not exhibit strain rate sensitivity (SRS) within the experimental error range. ► From 5 × 10−3 s−1 to 5 × 10−2 s−1 the alloy exhibits negative strain rate sensitivity (i.e. m ∼ −0.0026). ► The number of shear bands are related to the degree of stress softening from the maximum stress to the stress of failure.