Size effect in Pd77.5Cu6Si16.5 metallic glass micro-wires: More scattered strength with decreasing diameter

A size effect of more scattered strength with decreasing diameter is revealed by tension experiments on melt-spinning fabricated Pd77.5Cu6Si16.5 metallic glass microwires, and is explained from a perspective of structural inhomogeneity and a higher structure sensitivity of metallic glasses under tension condition and in a large aspect ratio. Such a result differs from the understanding of “the smaller the stronger” in the compression behaviors of metallic glasses, but indicates that the shear bands in metallic glasses actually could nucleate in a wide stress range. This finding could provide experimental evidence for the inhomogeneous structure and size effect in metallic glasses at the micro-scale, and could help the further study of their mechanical behaviors and substantial deformation mechanism.