Nanoscale morphologies on the fracture surface of bulk metallic glasses in the supercooled liquid region

We report the observations of nanoscale corrugation, nanowave and its branching structures on the fracture surface of tough Vit.1 bulk metallic glass (BMGs) in the supercooled liquid region. Wavelike behaviors of corrugations are observed as well. A shear band-based fracture model is proposed to interpret the formation of nanoscale morphologies in the fracture surfaces of bulk metallic glasses. The results might provide a new insight into the origin of fracture surface roughening in BMGs.