Change in the Free Volume in Amorphous Al88Ni10Y2 Alloy under Plastic Deformation

The surface morphology and structure of the amorphous Al₈₈Ni₁₀Y₂ alloy subjected to deformation by multiple cold rolling were studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It was shown that during plastic deformation, steps are formed on the surface of the amorphous alloy due to the emergence of shear bands on the surface. It was found that aluminum crystals are formed in the deformed alloy. The steps on the surface of the deformed alloy were analyzed using the images obtained by the scanning electron microscopy method. It was shown that the length of the steps remains approximately the same when examining the surface of different areas of the deformed alloy. An assessment was made of the change in the fraction of free volume in the studied alloy during plastic deformation. The applied methodology made it possible to assess the difference in the density of undeformed and deformed alloys of different compositions using electron microscopic images. Determining the change in free volume content in amorphous alloys subjected to plastic deformation is a key factor in studying the ways of forming amorphous-nanocrystalline structures with improved mechanical properties.