Plasticity induced by nanoparticle dispersions in bulk metallic glasses

We show room temperature plasticity in several ZrCu-based bulk metallic glasses (BMG) after dispersions of crystalline nanoparticles were generated prior to mechanical testing. BMGs are heated in synchrotron light in transmission such that annealing can be interrupted at the very first detection of nucleation of the crystallites. Effect of embedded nanocrystals on the mechanical properties of BMG-Composites was investigated by compressive testing. When nanocrystal dispersions were generated, zirconium-copper-based BMGs that initially showed no plastic deformation prior to fracture, exhibited ductile behavior in compression with about 10% deformation.