Quantitatively defining interconnecting-zone in metallic glasses

•Experimental data and simulation provided solid evidence on the interconnecting-zone (I-zone) concept.•Quantitatively defined I-zone concept based on atomic bond length by pair distribution function studies and simulations.•The nearest atom pairs in the interconnecting-zone were also analyzed.

The interconnecting-zone(I-zone) concept is important for understanding the nature of metallic glasses, especially the thermal-physical property change around the glass transition. The analyses of the pair-distribution function measured at 15 K using high intensity neutron source on the as-cast amorphous state and its crystallized counterpart of a Zr–Cu–Al alloy provided solid evidence on the I-zone concept. Together with the ab-initio molecular-dynamics simulations, it enables us to quantitatively describe this I-zone concept. The nearest atom pairs in the I-zone were also analyzed.