Pronounced tensile plasticity at room temperature in a Au65Cu10.5Ag7.5Si17 metallic glass

We report a pronounced tensile plasticity in a Au65Cu10.5Ag7.5Si17 metallic glass at room temperature. The tensile strength of the metallic glass decreases by decreasing the strain rate. Plastic deformation is heterogeneous and many percolating shear bands are observed on the fracture surface. In parallel, dynamic mechanical analysis indicates the absence of a pronounced secondary (or β) relaxation. Therefore, no correlation is observed between the relaxation behavior and the tensile plasticity.