In situ measurements of surface tension-driven shape recovery in a metallic glass

A new technique, involving nanoindentation and in situ scanning probe microscopy at high temperature under an inert atmosphere, is used to study deformation of a Pt-based metallic glass. As temperature is increased into the supercooled liquid regime, impressions made by nanoindentation flatten due to surface tension-driven viscous flow. In situ measurements of shape recovery at various temperatures and times permit an estimation of the apparent activation energy for Newtonian-viscous flow.