Understanding the atomic-scale effects of cyclic strains on metallic glasses

Abstract

Cyclic deformation has been widely utilized in the study and manufacture of metallic glasses (MGs), but the underlying behavior at atomic scale is still elusive. In this work, the effects of cyclic strains on Cu₆₄Zr₃₆ MGs were systematically investigated. Small cyclic strains lead to enhanced strength and aging, with more ordered local structure; while large cyclic strains promote the plasticity and rejuvenation, with more disordered structure. Moreover, the fastest atoms form large clusters, and the slowest atoms are dispersed under small cyclic strains; the fastest atoms form string-like connections, and the slowest atoms gather together as large clusters under large cyclic strains. Our study provides valuable insights for improving the performance of MGs by tuning the cyclic strains, and sheds light on the advanced manufacturing and processing of MGs by utilizing cyclic deformations.