Elastic and anelastic behavior of Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 bulk metallic glass around the glass transition temperature under ultrasonic excitation

Elastic and anelastic properties of Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 bulk glass have been investigated at high temperatures with the electromagnetic acoustic resonance technique within the frequency range of 300-1500 kHz. The elastic constants of ascast sample decrease monotonically up to the glass transition temperature T-g and jump up just above T-g, but such jumps disappear in the cooling and subsequent heating processes. This indicates that an irreversible structural stabilization occurs at T-g under ultrasound vibration. As for ultrasonic attenuation, prominent peaks appear at T, in the first heating process. These attenuation peaks can be attributed to the atom movements in the initial glassy state. (C) 2003 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.