Resonance ultrasonic actuation and local structural rejuvenation in metallic glasses

Using the method of contact resonance ultrasonic actuation (CRUA), we observed evidence of local structural rejuvenation at the surface of metallic glasses (MGs), arising from the increase of the vibration amplitude of the atoms after the resonance actuation. By adjusting the CRUA parameters, the size, pattern, and extent of the rejuvenated zones could be tailored. Nanoindentation tests revealed suppressed nucleation of shear bands after CRUA, originating from the homogenization of the local structure induced by the ultrasonic vibration. Compared with the structural homogenization from annealing, this method will not sacrifice the concentration of the free volume for the local structural constraint. These results are useful to understand the evolution of the microstructure and local structural rejuvenation of MGs, as well as the design of MGs with improved plasticity from the nanoscale to the microscale.