Influence of the chemical composition on the 13-relaxation and the mechanical behavior of LaCe-based bulk metallic glasses

The 13-relaxation is attributed to the localized motion of constituent atoms in the localized regions of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs). Here, the 13-relaxation behavior and the mechanical performance of a series of LaCebased BMGs with various chemical compositions were investigated by adjusting or replacing constituent elements. For (La40Ce60)65Al10+xCo25?x (x = 0, 5, 10) BMGs, prominent 13-relaxation was observed, and the relaxation temperature (T?) increased with Al content. The substitution of Co with Ni increased T?, whereas the substitution of Co with Cu suppressed the 13-relaxation. The results of compression testing at room temperature showed that once the deformation temperature was close to the activating temperature of the 13-relaxation, potential shear transformation zones could be activated due to the activated atomic mobility caused by applied stress. Thus, plastic deformation could be accommodated.