The correlation between β relaxation and shear transformation zone in LaNiAl bulk metallic glasses: The effect of cryogenic thermal cycling treatment

Abstract Despite the general acceptance that β relaxation and shear transformation zone (STZ) may share similar microstructure origin and possess identical activation energies, i.e., Eβ = WSTZ, in this study, we experimentally demonstrate opposite changing trends of the two energies could be derived in La60Ni25Al15 metallic glass before and after cryogenic thermal cycling treatment with distinct temperature intervals. Specifically, the experimental results indicate larger STZ requires higher WSTZ, while lower Eβ is needed to activate the atoms involved in string-like motions that corresponding to easier β relaxation. The results of this article will deepen our understanding of the correlation between relaxation and deformation carriers of the La-based metallic glasses.