Effect of the atomic packing density on the structural change rate of amorphous alloys under elastostatic stress

This study deals with the fundamental issue of whether the atomistic-scale structure of amorphous alloys can be altered by the application of elastic stress. The prolonged imposition of elastostatic stress on amorphous alloys induces permanent structural change. The rate of change largely depends on the atomic packing density, which is characterized by the fractions of various short-range ordered clusters. This structural change is accompanied by the formation of excess free volume, which in turn affects the mechanical properties in subsequent compression tests. The findings of the experiments and molecular dynamics simulations were analyzed in terms of atomistic-scale structural changes.