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Title: Structural heterogeneity and medium-range order in Zr{sub x}Cu{sub 100-x} metallic glasses

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
 [1]; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872 (China)
  2. Ames Laboratory, U.S. DOE, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)

Realistic three-dimensional atomistic structures of Zr{sub x}Cu{sub 100-x} (x=35,50) bulk metallic glasses are constructed using a combination of x-ray diffraction experiment and computational modeling. A cluster correlation method is developed to analyze the medium-range order in amorphous systems. We show that the glass systems consist of a stringlike backbone network formed by icosahedral clusters and a liquidlike structure filling in the remaining space. These findings are consistent with those obtained from our independent classical molecular-dynamics studies with embedded-atom method potential for ZrCu system. Such a heterogeneous structure provides a fundamental structural perspective of dynamical heterogeneity and glass formation.

OSTI ID:
21287106
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 80, Issue 18; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.80.184201; (c) 2009 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English