Nanoindentation study of chemical effects on the activation volume controlling shear band initiation in metallic glasses

  Planar flow melt spinning was used to prepare six Zr-based metallic glasses. Evidence of the effect of chemistry was found by structural and thermal characterizations. A clear influence of chemistry was also observed on the mechanical behaviour, with differences in hardness and Young’s modulus measured by nanoindentation being noted. Using a statistical analysis of the data, the activation volume controlling initiation of shear bands in the localized deformation process was obtained, and a correlation between this volume and the intrinsic alloy properties is emphasized.