J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2025, Vol. 218: 135-152.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2024.08.030

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Integrating dynamic relaxation with inelastic deformation in metallic glasses: Theoretical insights and experimental validation

G.H. Xinga, Q. Haoa, Guo-Jian Lyua,*, F. Zhua, Yun-Jiang Wangb,c, Y. Yangd,e, E. Pinedaf, J.C. Qiaoa,*   

  1. aSchool of Mechanics, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China;
    bState Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China;
    cSchool of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    dDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
    eDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
    fDepartment of Physics, Institute of Energy Technologies, Barcelona Research Centre in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona 08019, Spain
  • Received:2024-07-08 Revised:2024-08-09 Accepted:2024-08-12 Published:2025-05-20 Online:2024-09-07
  • Contact: *E-mail addresses: guojian.lyu@nwpu.edu.cn (G.-J. Lyu), qjczy@nwpu.edu.cn (J.C. Qiao)

Abstract: Metallic glasses (MGs), a metastable material far from equilibrium, exhibit intricate dynamic relaxation behaviors. The challenge lies in developing a model that accurately describes the dynamics and deformation mechanisms of MG. This paper introduces a model integrating dynamic relaxation with deformation behavior. Validation through dynamic mechanical analysis, stress relaxation, creep, and strain recovery tests confirm the existence of four deformation modes: elasticity, anelasticity from β relaxation, anelasticity from α relaxation at low temperatures, and viscoplasticity from α relaxation at high temperatures. The model captures all of these deformation modes. The dynamical mechanical spectrum and stress relaxation spectrum unveil dynamic features during glass to liquid transition, and a simple and effective experimental method was developed for identifying ultra-low-frequency dynamic relaxation. This work provides new perspectives on the study of relaxation dynamics in glassy states and establishes important connections between dynamic relaxation behavior and deformation mechanisms. These findings lay a theoretical and experimental foundation for the broad application of MGs.

Key words: Metallic glass, Stress relaxation, Creep, Dynamic relaxation, Quasi-point defect model