Enhancement of plasticity and toughness in monolithic Zr-based bulk metallic glass by heterogeneous microstructure

A significant enhancement of plasticity and toughness was achieved by increasing Zr content but decreasing Cu content in the Zr–Cu–Ni–Al–Ta bulk metallic glass system. It was found that higher Zr content induces strong icosahedral medium-range order clusters in amorphous phase which, in turn, cause heterogeneous distribution of free volume and eventually lead to the enhancement of plasticity and toughness of the monolithic bulk metallic glasses.