Shear delocalization and crack blunting of a metallic glass containing nanoparticles: In situ deformation in TEM analysis

By carefully observing shear bands generated by tensile deformation in a transmission electron microscope, we report evidence of shear delocalization in a Cu-based glass containing nanoparticle dispersions. Nanocrystals grow in shear bands, delocalize the shear and deviate and blunt cracks. The results are consistent with matter in operating shear bands behaving like a semi-solid slurry.