Pressure-driven densification and connectivity in a CuZr metallic glass
摘要
Metallic glasses (MGs) exhibit exceptional strength, elasticity, and corrosion resistance due to their disordered atomic structure, with Cu–Zr alloys serving as widely studied model systems. External pressure can significantly modify glass formation, atomic packing, and mechanical response by altering short-range order (SRO), medium-range order (MRO), and the glass transition temperature. While previous studies have reported pressure-induced crystallization or reductions in icosahedral ordering at high pressures, the present work shows that moderate external pressures (<10 GPa) enhance dense atomic packing without triggering crystallization. In particular, pressure increases the glass transition temperature and promotes the formation and interconnectivity of icosahedra-like structures, strengthening the amorphous backbone of the glass.
MethodsMolecular dynamics simulations were performed on a