On mechanical properties of metallic glass and its liquid vitrification characteristics

A systematic survey of the available data such as elastic constants, density, molar mass, and glass transition temperature of 45 metallic glasses is conducted. It is found that a critical strain controlling the onset of plastic deformation is material-independent. However, the correlation between elastic constants of solid glass and vitrification characteristics of its liquid does not follow a simple linear relation, and a characteristic volume, viz. molar volume, maybe relating to the characteristic size of a shear transformation zone (STZ), should be involved.

Formation of dendritic nanostructures in Pyrex glass anodically bonded to silicon coated with an aluminum thin film

Anodic bonding with thin films of metal or alloy as an intermediate layer, finds increasing applications in micro/nanoelectromechanical systems. At the bonding temperature of 350 degrees C, voltage of 400 V, and 30 min duration, the anodic bonding is completed between Pyrex glass and crystalline silicon coated with an aluminum thin film with a thickness comprised between 50 and 230 nm. Sodium-depleted layers and dendritic nanostructures were observed in Pyrex 7740 glass adjacent to the bonding interface. The sodium depletion width does not increase remarkably with the thickness of aluminum film. The dendritic nanostructures result from aluminum diffusion into the Pyrex glass. This experimental research is expected to enhance the understanding of how the depletion layer and dendritic nanostructures affect the quality of anodic bonding. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Formation Mechanism Of Lamellar Chips During Machining Of Bulk Metallic Glass

The uniqThe unique lamellar chips formed in turning–machining of a Vit 1 bulk metallic glass (BMG) are found to be due to repeated shearband formation in the primary shear zone (PSZ). A coupled thermomechanical orthogonal cutting model, taking into account force, free volume and energy balance in the PSZ, is developed to quantitatively characterize lamellar chip formation. Its onset criterion is revealed through a linear perturbation analysis. Lamellar chip formation is understood as a self-sustained limit-cycle phenomenon: there is autonomous feedback in stress, free volume and temperature in the PSZ. The underlying mechanism is the symmetry breaking of free volume flow and source, rather than thermal instability. These results are fundamentally useful for machining BMGs and even for understanding the physical nature of inhomogeneous flow in BMGs.ue lamellar chips formed in turning–machining of a Vit 1 bulk metallic glass (BMG) are found to be due to repeated shearband.

Inherent Shear-Dilatation Coexistence In Metallic Glass

Shear deformation can induce normal stress or hydrostatic stress in metallic glasses [ Nature Mater. 2 ( 2003) 449, Intermetallics 14 ( 2006) 1033]. We perform the bulk deformation of three-dimensional Cu46Zr54 metallic glass (MG) and Cu single crystal model systems using molecular dynamics simulation. The results indicate that hydrostatic stress can incur shear stress in MG, but not in crystal. The resultant pronounced asymmetry between tension and compression originates from this inherent shear-dilatation coexistence in MG.

Bonding Of Alumina And Metal Using Bulk Metallic Glass Forming Alloy

Metal-alumina joints have found various practical applications in electronic devices and high technology industry. However, making of sound metal ceramic brazed couple is still a challenge in terms of its direct application in the industry. In this work we successfully braze copper with Al2O3 ceramic using Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 bulk metallic glass forming alloy as filler alloy. The shear strength of the joints can reach 140 MPa, and the microstructrural analysis confirms a reliable chemical boning of the interface. The results show that the bulk metallic glass forming alloys with high concentration of active elements are prospective for using as filler alloy in metal-ceramic bonding.

Smaller Deborah number inducing more serrated plastic flow of metallic glass

Spherical nano-indentations of Cu46Zr54 bulk metallic glass (BMG) model systems were performed using molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulations, focusing specifically on the physical origin of serrated plastic flow. The results demonstrate that there is a direct correlation between macroscopic flow serration and underlying irreversible rearrangement of atoms, which is strongly dependent on the loading (strain) rate and the temperature. The serrated plastic flow is, therefore, determined by the magnitude of such irreversible rearrangement that is inhomogeneous temporally. A dimensionless Deborah number is introduced to characterize the effects of strain rate and temperature on serrations. Our simulations are shown to compare favorably with the available experimental observations.

Nanoscale periodic corrugation to dimple transition due to "beat" in a bulk metallic glass

We report an intriguing observation that the interaction of brittle nanoscale periodic corrugations (NPCs) can lead to the formation of ductile dimples on the dynamic fracture surface of a tough Vit 1 bulk metallic glass (BMG) under high-velocity plate impact. A “beat” phenomenon due to superposition of simple harmonic vibrations, approximately characterizing NPCs, is proposed to explain this unusual brittle-to-ductile transition. The present results agree well with our previously revealed energy dissipation mechanism in the fracture of BMGs.

Synthesis Of Plastic Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass Matrix Composites By The Copper-Mould Suction Casting And The Bridgman Solidification

Zr-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites with the composition of Zr56.2Ti13.8Nb5.0Cu6.9Ni5.6Be12.(5) were synthesized by the copper-mould suction casting and the Bridgman solidification. The composite, containing a well-developed flowery beta-Zr dendritic phase, was obtained by the Bridgman solidification with the withdrawal velocity of 0.8 mm/s and the temperature gradient of 45 K/mm, and the ultimate strength of 2050 MPa and fracture plastic strain of 14.6% of the composite were achieved, which was mainly interpreted by the homogeneous dispersion of bcc beta-Zr phase in the glass matrix. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Energy transfer between silicon-oxygen-related defects and Yb3+ in transparent glass ceramics containing Ba2TiSi2O 8 nanocrystals

We report on the conversion of near-ultraviolet radiation of 250-350 nm into near-infrared emission of 970-1100 nm in Yb3+-doped transparent glass ceramics containing Ba2TiSi2O8 nanocrystals due to the energy transfer from the silicon-oxygen-related defects to Yb3+ ions. Efficient Yb3+ emission (F-2(5/2)-> F-2(7/2)) was detected under the excitation of defects absorption at 314 nm. The occurrence of energy transfer is proven by both steady state and time-resolved emission spectra, respectively, at 15 K. The Yb2O3 concentration dependent energy transfer efficiency has also been evaluated, and the maximum value is 65% for 8 mol % Yb2O3 doped glass ceramic. These materials are promising for the enhancement of photovoltaic conversion efficiency of silicon solar cells via spectra modification.

Mechanism study of femtosecond laser induced selective metallization (FLISM) on glass surfaces

We investigate the mechanism of selective metallization on glass surfaces with the assistance of femtosecond laser irradiation followed by electroless plating. Irradiation of femtosecond laser makes it possible to selectively deposit copper microstructures in the irradiated area on glass surfaces coated with silver nitrate films. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses reveal that silver atoms are produced on the surface of grooves formed by laser ablation, which serve as catalysis seeds for subsequent electroless copper plating. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pulse temporal cleaner based on nonlinear ellipse rotation by using BK7 glass plate

We report a new pulse cleaning technique to enhance the contrast ratio of intense ultra-short laser pulses. A pulse temporal cleaner based on nonlinear ellipse rotation by using BK7 glass plate is developed, and a contrast ratio improvement of two orders of magnitude for the milli-joule level femtosecond input pulses is demonstrated, the total transmission efficiency of the pulse cleaner is 16.7%.

Micromodification of element distribution in glass using femtosecond laser irradiation

We report micromodification of Eu element distribution in a silicate glass with femtosecond laser irradiation. Elemental analysis shows that the content of Eu decreased at the focal point and increased in a ring-shaped region around the focal point, which indicates migration of Eu ions has been induced by the femtosecond laser irradiation. Confocal fluorescence spectra demonstrate that the fluorescence intensity of Eu3+ ions increased by 20% in the laser-induced, Eu-enriched, ring-shaped region compared with that for nonirradiated glass. The mechanism for the laser induced change in fluorescence properties of Eu3+ has been investigated. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America

Effect of cerium oxide on the precipitation of silver nanoparticles in femtosecond laser irradiated silicate glass

We investigated the effect of cerium oxide on the precipitation of Ag nanoparticles in silicate glass via a femtosecond laser irradiation and successive annealing. Absorption spectra show that Ce3+ ions may absorb part of the laser energy via multiphoton absorption and release free electrons, resulting in an increase of the concentration of Ag atoms and a decrease of the concentration of hole-trapped color centers, which influence precipitation of the Ag nanoparticles. In addition, we found that the formed Ag-0 may reduce Ce4+ ions to Ce3+ ions during the annealing process, which inhibits the growth of the Ag nanoparticles.

Freestanding optical fibers fabricated in a glass chip by femtosecond laser micromachining for lab-on-a-chip application (vol 13, pg 7225, 2005)

An erratum is presented to correct the propagation loss of the freestanding optical fibers fabricated in glass chip. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.

Self-assembled quasi-periodic voids in glass induced by a tightly focused femtosecond laser

Multiple refocusing of a tightly focused femtosecond laser due to the dynamic transformation between self-focusing and self-defocusing is employed to provide a novel method to produce quasi-periodic voids in glass. It is found that the diameter or the interval of the periodic voids increases with the increasing pulse energy of the laser. The detailed course for producing periodic voids is discussed by analysing the damaged track induced by the tightly focused femtosecond laser pulses. It is suggested that this periodic structure has potential applications in fabrication of three-dimensional optical devices.