Free-volume evolution and its temperature dependence during rolling of Cu60Zr20Ti20 bulk metallic glass

Abstract

The free-volume evolution during rolling Cu60Zr20Ti20 bulk metallic glass at room and cryogenic temperatures has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. When the specimen is rolled at cryogenic temperature, the free-volume content increases as the rolling proceeds first, and then saturates accompanied by the occurrence of phase separation as the thickness reduction exceeds 89%. If the rolling is performed at room temperature, although the free-volume content also rises in the earlier stage, it tends to decrease rather than saturate when the thickness reduction exceeds 87%, accompanied by partial crystallization. Phase separation does not change the annihilation rate of free volume, while the appearance of crystal/amorphous boundaries can enhance the annihilation.