Interactions between mechanically generated defects and corrosion phenomena of Zr-based bulk metallic glasses

Using the example of a Zr-Ti-Al-Cu-Ni bulk metallic glass with an ex situ approach, two aspects were studied: (i) the effects of pre-formed corrosion pits on the room temperature deformation behaviour, and (ii) the effect of mechanically generated defects on the local corrosion susceptibility. For the latter, Vickers micro-indents generated with different loads were also employed as model defects. It is revealed that pre-formed corrosion pits act as favourable surface sites to which shear bands are linked and most likely nucleate, which leads to a slight reduction in the maximum compression stress. Further, mechanically generated defects have to be considered as critical weak points at a glassy sample surface which can act as preferential sites for local corrosion initiation and propagation. Local chemical and structural changes due to the formation of shear bands as a response to mechanical load are discussed as possible reasons for this. For potential high-load applications of bulk metallic glasses this interaction must be considered as an important lifetime limiting aspect. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.