Internal state modulation-mediated plasticity enhancement in monolithic Ti-based bulk metallic glass

The effect of strain-induced internal state modulation created by cold rolling on the plastic deformation of Ti40Zr25Ni8Cu9Be18 bulk metallic glass was investigated. The pre-plastic deformation is very effective for improving the room temperature compressive plasticity, i.e., the plastic strain is remarkably enhanced up to ∼14.5%. The origin of the improved room temperature plasticity is related to the introduction of a strain-mediated heterogeneous microstructure composed of shear softened regions and surrounding undeformed hard regions, providing rather uniform plastic flow.