Shear-band propagation in fully amorphous and partially crystallized Mg-based alloys studied by nanoindentation and transmission electron microscopy

Fully amorphous and partially crystallized Mg66Ni20Nd14 and partially crystallized Mg60Cu30Y10 alloys were indented and, subsequently, thinned along the cross-section of the indent by means of a focused ion beam (FIB) for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation. Depending on the crystallized fraction and the crystal size, the volume deformed under the indenter tip shows different features that can be associated with the different ability of the shear bands to propagate in the two partially devitrified metallic glasses.