Nanoindentation studies of shear banding in fully amorphous and partially devitrified metallic alloys

Nanoindentation loading curves on metallic glasses can show sharp, constant-load steps. The relationship of these steps to shear-band initiation is explored for a wide range of metallic glasses, from thin films to bulk. On a given loading curve, there is a well defined strain for initiation of shear bands. The steps may be blurred by instrumental effects or partial devitrification. The nanoindentation results do not suggest a transition in deformation mode as a function of strain rate.