Cooperative Shear in Bulk Metallic Glass Composites Containing Metastable β-Ti Dendrites

We report a novel plastic deformation mechanism of bulk metallic glass composites (BMGCs) containing metastable β-Ti dendrites. Plastic deformation of the BMGCs beyond the ultimate tensile strength is mediated by cooperative shear events, which comprise a shear band in the glassy matrix and a continuous ω-Ti band with a thickness of ∼10  nm in the β-Ti dendrite. The cooperative shear leads to serrated shear avalanches. The formation of narrow ω-Ti bands is caused by high local strain rates during the cooperative shear. The cooperative shear mechanism enriches the deformation mechanisms of BMGCs and also deepens the understanding of ω-Ti formation.