Pressure-controlled nucleation and growth in Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass close to and beyond glass transition temperature

Abstract By high-pressure annealing close to and beyond glass transition temperature, the behavior of nucleation and growth of crystals in Zr 41 Ti 14 Cu 12.5 Ni 10 Be 22.5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) is investigated. The experimental results indicate that exerting a high pressure during annealing can markedly decrease the nucleation temperature of the BMG. The growth rate of crystals first increases and then decreases with increase of annealing pressure. The effect of pressure on nucleation and growth of crystals is phenomenologically explained.