On the origin of the shear modulus change and heat release upon crystallization of metallic glasses

It has been shown that the changes of the internal energy and elastic moduli occurring upon crystallization of metallic glasses can be explained under the assumption that the initial glassy structure contains “defects” similar to elastic dipoles in crystals. These “defects” define the elastic softening of glass and disappear upon crystallization so that their elastic energy is released as heat. The experimental verification of this model has been performed and characteristic parameters of elastic dipoles in a Zr-based bulk metallic glass have been determined.