Structural rejuvenation and relaxation of a metallic glass under the periodically thermal-mechanical loading

The current work focuses on effect of the thermomechanical protocol which can lead either to aging or rejuvenation of glass through decoupling of the thermal and mechanical processes. We demonstrated that the Labased metallic glass shows a kind of material hypomnesia because a clearer rejuvenation trend is observed just after imposing strain oscillations of increasing amplitude than after a long period from that, as it is proved by the results of stress relaxation. There is a threshold value of the oscillation amplitude that separates the effect of the protocol between acceleration of aging and rejuvenation. The activated energy spectrums imply plasticity and mechanical heterogeneity of the metallic glass promoted by simple mechanical stimulation. Mechanical perturbations applied not long ago in time are vital for hypomnesia metallic glasses, in which different histories lead to various degrees of aging or rejuvenation. The correlation between the thermomechanical properties of metallic glasses and the previous application of strain oscillations of various amplitude is unveiled in this work, revealing an effective tool for regulating the structural state of metallic glasses through an easy-operated method.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the influence of the thermomechanical protocol on the aging or rejuvenation of glass by decoupling the thermal and mechanical processes. The results show that Labased metallic glass exhibits material hypomnesia, with a clearer rejuvenation trend observed after imposing increasing amplitude strain oscillations. There is a threshold value of the oscillation amplitude that separates the effects of the protocol into acceleration of aging or rejuvenation. This study reveals the correlation between the thermomechanical properties of metallic glass and the previous application of strain oscillations of various amplitudes, providing an effective tool for regulating the structural state of metallic glasses through a simple-operated method.