Structural skeleton of preferentially interpenetrated clusters and correlation with shear localization in Mg-Cu-Ni ternary metallic glasses

Correlation between the topologically close-packed structure and the deformation behavior of metallic Cu64.5Zr35.5

The topologically close-packed (TCP) structural characteristics in a model metallic glass (MG) of Cu_64.5Zr_35.5 have been investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. A group of structural indicators based on the largest standard cluster (LaSC) have been correlated with the non-affine displacement (D²) of atoms, so as to reveal the hidden correlation between local structures and deformation behavior of Cu_64.5Zr_35.5 during compression. It was found that the 15 types of Top-10 LaSCs are all TCP-like ones, among which the most numerous icosahedron (Z12 and 1-Z12) decreases in population sharply and moderately during respectively the elastic and yield region of compression; while in the fluid-flow region, the number of all Top-10 LaSCs tends to be almost constant. Low-D² atoms prefer to link with each other; while medium-D² atoms act as transition structures between backbone areas and deformation areas. Most interestingly, the deformation response of TCP-like atoms is not only determined by its nearest neighbor characteristics, but also depends on the linkage with other atoms. In addition, icosahedral atoms with a higher degree of medium range five-fold symmetry (MRFFS) are more resistant to the stress-induced deformation. Therefore, the TCP characteristics, including its nearest neighbor feature and the inter-connection between TCP LaSCs, are closely related with the deformation behavior of atoms, especially the MRFFS (up to 5 layers) of icosahedral atoms. These findings shed new light on the understanding of the relationship between microstructure and deformation response of MGs, which will promote the development of deformation theory of MGs.

Atomic-Approach to Predict the Energetically Favored Composition Region and to Characterize the Short-, Medium-, and Extended-Range Structures of the Ti-Nb-Al Ternary Metallic Glasses

Ab initio calculations were conducted to assist the construction of the n-body potential of the Ti-Nb-Al ternary metal system. Applying the constructed Ti-Nb-Al interatomic potential, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to predict a quadrilateral composition region, within which metallic glass was energetically favored to be formed. In addition, the amorphous driving force of those predicted possible glassy alloys was derived and an optimized composition around Ti₁₅Nb₄₅Al₄₀ was pinpointed, implying that this alloy was easier to be obtained. The atomic structure of Ti-Nb-Al metallic glasses was identified by short-, medium-, and extended-range analysis/calculations, and their hierarchical structures were responsible to the formation ability and unique properties in many aspects.

Atomistic modeling to investigate the favored composition for metallic glass formation in the Ca-Mg-Ni ternary system

A realistic interatomic potential was first constructed for the Ca-Mg-Ni system and then applied to Monte Carlo simulations to predict the favored composition for metallic glass formation in the ternary system. The simulations not only predict a hexagonal composition region, within which the Ca-Mg-Ni metallic glass formation is energetically favored, but also pinpoint an optimized sub-region within which the amorphization driving force, i.e. the energy difference between the solid solution and disordered phase, is larger than that outside. The simulations further reveal that the physical origin of glass formation is the solid solution collapsing when the solute atom exceeds the critical solid solubility. Further structural analysis indicates that the pentagonal bi-pyramids dominate in the optimized sub-region. The large atomic size difference between Ca, Mg and Ni extends the short-range landscape and facilitates the development of a hybridized packing model in the medium-range, and eventually enhancing the glass formation in the system. The predictions are well supported by the experimental observations reported so far, and could be of help for designing the ternary glass formation.

Computational assisted design of the favored composition for metallic glass formation in a Ca–Mg–Cu system

Based on the constructed realistic interatomic potential, the favored compositions of the Ca–Mg–Cu metallic glass are well predicted by Monte Carlo simulations.

Proposed correlation of structure network inherited from producing techniques and deformation behavior for Ni-Ti-Mo metallic glasses via atomistic simulations

Based on the newly constructed n-body potential of Ni-Ti-Mo system, Molecular Dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations predict an energetically favored glass formation region and an optimal composition sub-region with the highest glass-forming ability. In order to compare the producing techniques between liquid melt quenching (LMQ) and solid-state amorphization (SSA), inherent hierarchical structure and its effect on mechanical property were clarified via atomistic simulations. It is revealed that both producing techniques exhibit no pronounced differences in the local atomic structure and mechanical behavior, while the LMQ method makes a relatively more ordered structure and a higher intrinsic strength. Meanwhile, it is found that the dominant short-order clusters of Ni-Ti-Mo metallic glasses obtained by LMQ and SSA are similar. By analyzing the structural evolution upon uniaxial tensile deformation, it is concluded that the gradual collapse of the spatial structure network is intimately correlated to the mechanical response of metallic glasses and acts as a structural signature of the initiation and propagation of shear bands.

Atomistic Design of Favored Compositions for Synthesizing the Al-Ni-Y Metallic Glasses

For a ternary alloy system promising for obtaining the so-called bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), the first priority issue is to predict the favored compositions, which could then serve as guidance for the appropriate alloy design. Taking the Al-Ni-Y system as an example, here we show an atomistic approach, which is developed based on a recently constructed and proven realistic interatomic potential of the system. Applying the Al-Ni-Y potential, series simulations not only clarify the glass formation mechanism, but also predict in the composition triangle, a hexagonal region, in which a disordered state, i.e., the glassy phase, is favored energetically. The predicted region is defined as glass formation region (GFR) for the ternary alloy system. Moreover, the approach is able to calculate an amorphization driving force (ADF) for each possible glassy alloy located within the GFR. The calculations predict an optimized sub-region nearby a stoichiometry of Al₈₀Ni₅Y₁₅, implying that the Al-Ni-Y metallic glasses designed in the sub-region could be the most stable. Interestingly, the atomistic predictions are supported by experimental results observed in the Al-Ni-Y system. In addition, structural origin underlying the stability of the Al-Ni-Y metallic glasses is also discussed in terms of a hybrid packing mode in the medium-range scale.

Computation assisted design of favored composition for ternary Mg-Cu-Y metallic glass formation

With the aid of ab initio calculations, a realistic interatomic potential was constructed for the Mg-Cu-Y ternary system under the proposed formalism of smoothed and long-range second-moment approximation of tight-binding. Taking the potential as the starting base, an atomistic computation/simulation route was developed for designing favored and optimized compositions for Mg-Cu-Y metallic glass formation. Simulations revealed that the physical origin of metallic glass formation is the collapse of crystalline lattice when solute concentration exceeds a critical value, thus leading to predict a hexagonal region in the Mg-Cu-Y composition triangle, within which metallic glass formation is energetically favored. It is proposed that the hexagonal region can be defined as the intrinsic glass formation region, or quantitative glass formation ability of the system. Inside the hexagonal region, the driving force for formation of each specific glassy alloy was further calculated and correlated with its forming ability in practice. Calculations pinpointed the optimized stoichiometry in the Mg-Cu-Y system to be Mg64Cu16Y20, at which the formation driving force reaches its maximum, suggesting that metallic glasses designed to have compositions around Mg64Cu16Y20 are most stable or easiest to obtain. The predictions derived directly from the atomistic simulations are supported by experimental observations reported so far in the literature. Furthermore, Honeycutt-Anderson analysis indicated that pentagonal bipyramids (although not aggregating to form icosahedra) dominate in the local structure of the Mg-Cu-Y metallic glasses. A microscopic picture of the medium-range packing can then be described as an extended network of the pentagonal bipyramids, entangled with the fourfold and sixfold disclination lines, jointly fulfilling the space of the metallic glasses.

Atomistic modeling to optimize composition and characterize structure of Ni–Zr–Mo metallic glasses

An interatomic potential was constructed for the Ni–Zr–Mo ternary metal system with the newly proposed long-range empirical formulism, which has been verified to be applicable for fcc, hcp and bcc transition metals and their alloys.

Thermodynamic predicting and atomistic modeling the favored compositions for Mg–Ni–Y metallic glasses

For Mg–Ni–Y system, glass formation is jointly studied by thermodynamic calculations and atomistic simulations. The prediction results have extensive implications for the Mg-based family and could be of great help for guiding the composition design.

Atomistic study of chemical effect on local structure in Mg-based metallic glasses

By applying a recently constructed interatomic potential, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to investigate the structural origin of chemical effects in Mg–Cu–Ni ternary metallic glasses.

Synergy and pinning effects in a monatomic liquid film in confined conditions

A semi-ordered morphology with maze-like nano-patterns emerges due to the synergy effect and pinning effect of local icosahedral order during rapid cooling.