Absence of crystallization during cylindrical indentation of a Zr-based metallic glass

The deformation zone formed by a cylindrical indenter on a Zr-based metallic glass was examined by using high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction in transmission to obtain a bulk analysis of a relatively large sample volume (0.08 mm3). In addition, individual shear bands were examined by extracting specific sections using a focused ion beam technique followed by transmission electron microscopy. No evidence of crystallization was observed. The lack of formation of any crystalline phase during the course of the cylindrical indentation, in contrast to reports of crystallization in the same Zr-based metallic glass composition under a nano-indenter, is attributed to the evolution of the large differences in the pressure levels between these two deformation modes.