Effects of annealing on the hardness and elastic modulus of a Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 bulk metallic glass

In this paper, the effects of isothermal annealing on the hardness and elastic modulus of a Cu36Zr48Al8Ag8 bulk metallic glass (BMG) were investigated. It has been shown that the Vickers hardness increases from ∼481 Hv (as-cast state) to ∼518 Hv after annealed for 20 min. Nanoindentation tests also showed that the hardness and elastic modulus increase from ∼6.45 GPa and ∼113.0 GPa (as-cast state) to ∼7.27 GPa and ∼130.9 GPa after annealed for 20 min, respectively. The results indicated that the free volume of the BMG decreased and nanocrystals nucleated during annealing. The annihilation of the free volume decreased the nucleation ratio/sites of the shear bands, while the nucleation of nanocrystals inhibited the propagation of the shear bands. Both effects are responsible for the enhancement of the hardness and elastic modulus of the BMG.

► The free volume decreases and nanocrystals nucleate during annealing.
► Decrease of the free volume decreases the nucleation ratio of the shear bands.
► The nucleation of nanocrystals inhibits the propagation of the shear bands.
► Hardness and modulus depends on the evolution of free volume and nanocrystals.