Nanomechanical properties of embedded dendrite phase and its influence on inelastic deformation of Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 glassy alloy

In order to study nanomechanical deformation property of an amorphous composite, nanoindentation and uniaxial compression tests were carried out on a dendrite containing Zr-based glassy alloy. Indenter penetration of the hard dendrite particle was about 100 nm shallower than that of the glassy matrix at the applied load 10 mN. Actual hardness, implying the load-supporting pile-up, of the dendrite phase was about eight times higher than that of the glassy matrix. Although this severe strength mismatch caused shear band bypassing and branching behaviors near the dendrite particles, ductility increment during the uniaxial compression test was negligible. The nil strengthening effects of the dendrite particle were discussed from the viewpoints of its small size, low volume fraction, sparse distribution and high cracking susceptibility of interface.