Initial plasticity onset in Zr- and Hf-rich bulk metallic glasses during instrumented indentation

Sudden jumps in nanoindentation load-displacement curves of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) signify the onset of plastic deformation. These events are investigated on varying compositions of Zr- and Hf-rich BMGs. Load-versus-displacement graphs for spherical indentations are analyzed to determine displacement, load, intensity of deformation, energy per volume, energy loss, and pressure corresponding to these key locations. Attention is focused on pressure, energy loss, and energy per volume at initial plasticity in response to varying strain rates, indenter tip radii, preload, and material composition. Energy loss was found to correlate with preload. The Zr-rich metallic glass was found to plastically deform in response to smaller loads than Hf-rich specimens.