Intrinsic and extrinsic toughening of metallic glasses

Metallic glasses exhibit toughness values ranging from those approaching ideally brittle solids (i.e. 1 J m−2) to those of tough steels (i.e. >10,000 J m−2) while possessing near theoretical strengths. The factors affecting the intrinsic plasticity or brittleness of different metallic glass alloys as well as annealing-induced embrittlement are reviewed. Extrinsic toughening approaches are also summarized.