Energetic criterion on the intrinsic ductility of bulk metallic glasses

We report the use of an energetic criterion to assess the deformability of glassy alloys based on the cooperative shearing model and energy landscape theory. The barrier energy density necessary for the activation of shear transformation zones and the initiation of shear bands shows a strong correlation with the ductility of bulk metallic glasses. This finding directly ties the ductility of metallic glasses to the forming ability of shear bands and offers an energetic insight into the mechanical behavior of metallic glasses.