Abstract Scope |
Bulk metallic glasses combine plastic like processing with superb high-strength metal properties. Their processing opportunities originate from their high thermal stability, which has been explored for novel metal processing methods such as fused filament fabrication to 3D print, blowmolding to fabricate previously unachievable shapes for metals, and micro- nanofabrication.
As BMGs are metastable, processing has to avoid crystallization, structural relaxation, and reduction of fictive temperature. We show here that minute structural changes, realized through processing conditions, can cause drastic effects on mechanical properties. Specifically, we reveal a flaw tolerance behavior of metallic glasses, a critical volume fraction of crystallinity for embrittlement, and a mechanical glass transition behavior. We will offer a mechanistic understanding based on local atomistic events controlling brittleness and ductility in metallic glasses.
Utilizing suggested metallic glass paradigm requires careful considerations of all these phenomena to form high-strength metals like plastics with consistently high fracture toughness. |