Super-high compressive plastic deformation behaviors of Zr-based metallic glass at room temperature

The plastic deformation behavior of a Zr-based metallic glass with super-high compressive ductility was investigated. It was found that large amount of excess free volume would induce large shear transformation zone (STZ), which could stimulate multiple primary shear bands and stabilize their propagation. However, the sample with small STZ showed unstable single shear banding, and an obvious stress valley was found in the true stress–strain curve. This finding is important for understanding the plastic deformation behaviors of various metallic glasses.