| Abstract Scope |
In metallic glasses (MGs), the existence of medium-range order (MRO) is a core topic of current research, as it strongly influences application-relevant properties.
Atomistic simulations covering the microsecond time scale connect MRO with the formation of clusters with low potential-energy structures - these organize into a percolative network of minimally frustrated regions, embedded in a more disordered matrix. On the microstructural level, this entails stiffness related to the percolative network, coexisting with a remaining more-frustrated substructure that admit transport (JALCOM 821, 153209, 2020; Acta Mater. 267, 119730, 2024).
Exploring such network structures in laboratory MGs is crucial for microstructural tuning for enhanced technological performance. Here, we present how the existence of a percolative network as perceived in microsecond-long atomistic simulations is reflected in 4DSTEM-experiments providing information on local structure and thereby allowing for new perspectives on the properties and structural evolution of MGs. |