STRESS CRITERIA FOR SOLID-STATE AMORPHIZATION

Amorphization of crystalline CuTi2 by radiation damage was simulated by molecular dynamics. At the completion of amorphization, the magnitude and distribution of the atomic level shear stresses were found to reach a state identical to that of the glassy phase attained by quenching a liquid. It is suggested that the atomic level stress provides a universal criterion for the attainment of the amorphous state, through glass transition, alloying, and solid state amorphization.