Nanoindentation of Nanoglasses
Insights from atomic scale computer simulations of mechanical properties
2021/04/16 by K. Albe
Metallic nanoglasses are non-crystalline solids that can be synthesized by cold compression of nanometer-sized metallic glass particles. The microstructure of nanoglass consists of vitreous grains that are connected by glass-glass interfaces. These interface areas are characterized by excess volume, a lack of short-range order and a deviating composition.
In the present work we model the nanoindentation of Cu64Zr36 nanoglass by means of molecular dynamic simulations. We investigate the influence of chemical segregation on the glass-glass interfaces and the effects of structural relaxation by comparing cold-compacted and tempered nanoglasses.
The results show that the mechanical properties of nanoglass are mainly controlled by the structural state of the interfaces, while in our model system the chemical segregation to the interfaces only slightly influences the mechanical properties.
