Effects of Temperature and Alloy Composition on Nanomechanical Properties of ZrCu Metallic Glass under Tension

Background: The nanomechanical properties of Zr50Cu50 metallic glass under tension are studied. The effects of temperature and alloy composition are investigated in terms of atomic trajectories, slip vectors, stress-strain curve, and radial distribution function. Methods: The molecular dynamics simulations based on the many-body tight-binding potential are applied to analyze the nanomechanical properties of metallic glass under tension. Results: The mechanical properties of the metallic glass are sensitive to temperature and alloy composition. Under tensile deformation, the stress increases with increasing temperature and Zr content in the alloys. At higher temperatures, the alloy atoms have high slip vectors, and plasticity becomes more homogeneous due to a better flow ability of atoms. Conclusion: The alloys with higher Zr content have larger mechanical strengths. The alloys with higher Cu content have more stable structures.