Effects of pre-charged hydrogen on the mechanical and thermal behavior of Zr-Ti-Ni-Cu-Be bulk metallic glass alloys

The effects of pre-charged hydrogen on the deformation, fracture and thermal behavior of a Zr-Ti-Ni-Cu-Be bulk metallic glass were investigated. The glass transition and crystallization temperatures were shifted to higher values with increasing hydrogen charging indicating sluggish kinetics. Flow stress was increased and fracture toughness was degraded after hydrogen charging. The atomic jump process which underlies the plastic deformation is believed to be retarded by hydrogen resulting in embrittlement.