The Open Materials Science Journal

2008, 2 : 1-5
Published online 2008 January 25. DOI: 10.2174/1874088X00802010001
Publisher ID: TOMSJ-2-1

Study of the Mechanical Behaviour of a Zr-Based Metallic Glass Rod Using Micro- and Nano-Indentation

J. Sort , N. Van Steenberge , A. Gimazov , A. Concustell , S. Suriñach , A. Gebert , J. Eckert and M.D. Baró
Dept. de Física, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.

ABSTRACT

The mechanical properties of a Zr55Cu30Al10Ni5 metallic glass rod are investigated by Vickers microhardness and depth-sensing nanoindentation. The alloy exhibits a relatively large hardness which decreases when increasing the maximum applied load. Serrated flow is also observed during nanoindentation. Both effects are related to deformationinduced mechanical softening.

Keywords:

Bulk metallic glass, nanoindentation, indentation size effect.