Title: On the question of fractal packing structure in metallic glasses

Abstract

This work addresses the long-standing debate over fractal models of packing structure in metallic glasses (MGs). Through detailed fractal and percolation analyses of MG structures, derived from simulations spanning a range of compositions and quenching rates, we conclude that there is no fractal atomic-level structure associated with the packing of all atoms or solute-centered clusters. The results are in contradiction with conclusions derived from previous studies based on analyses of shifts in radial distribution function and structure factor peaks associated with volume changes induced by pressure and compositional variations. Here in this paper, the interpretation of such shifts is shown to be challenged by the heterogeneous nature of MG structure and deformation at the atomic scale. Moreover, our analysis in the present work illustrates clearly the percolation theory applied to MGs, for example, the percolation threshold and characteristics of percolation clusters formed by subsets of atoms, which can have important consequences for structure–property relationships in these amorphous materials.

Authors:

Ding, Jun  ^[1];

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Asta, Mark ^[2]; Ritchie, Robert O. ^[2]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720,
2. Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720,, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720

Publication Date:

Tue Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:

1372717

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1421804

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC02-05CH11231

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Volume: 114 Journal Issue: 32; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; metallic glass; fractal structure; percolation cluster; dimensionality; inhomogeneous deformation