Influence of strain-rate on compressive-deformation behavior of a Zr-Cu-Ni-Al bulk metallic glass at cryogenic temperature

The compressive-deformation behavior of the Zr(50.7)Cu(28)Ni(9)Al(12.3) bulk metallic glass has been studied over a wide strain-rate range at cryogenic temperature (123 K). The BMG presents a negative strain-rate effect on the strength. The decrease in the fracture strength at higher strain rates could be attributed to the combination of strain-rate hardening, thermal softening and free-volume softening. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.