Anelastic Relaxation Process Associated to Atomic Migration and Structural Rearrangement in Metallic Alloys with High Glass Forming Ability (Glassy and Nanocrystalline Alloys)

Abstract

In the recent years the study of bulk metallic glasses (BMG) is of great scientific and technological interest for its unique properties due to the lack of long range atomic order in the structure and compositional homogeneity similar to the liquid state. These alloys show better mechanical properties, superior corrosion resistance and high yield stress and fracture toughness, compared to their crystalline counterparts. However, a physical understanding of disordered structure and as it affects the properties of metallic glasses, is still considered one of the great challenges in Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science. Since the Mechanical Spectroscopy technique is sensitive to phase transitions and dynamical processes, it provides the anelastic spectra (internal friction and oscillation frequency) as function of temperature, through which are obtained relevant information to the understanding of structural and vibrational changes of metallic glasses. The objective of this project is to use the Mechanical Spectroscopy technique together with Raman spectroscopy technique to investigate the dynamical processes related to atomic motions and cluster, as well as possible phase transitions, atomic bonds and the elastic and electronic properties of metallic glasses. This will allow investigating of changes that occur in metallic glasses from cryogenic temperatures up to the crystallization temperature of glassy alloys using the frequency range of hertz to megahertz, which will contribute to modeling and development of new glassy alloys with potential technological application.