Surface microstructure of Zr41.25Ti13.75Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5, a bulk metallic glass

Abstract

The surface of Zr41.25Ti13.75Cu12.5Ni10.0Be22.5, a bulk metallic glass prepared by RF induction melting, has been imaged using atomic force microscopy. The untreated surfaces were very smooth; features were no higher than 3 nm over a 10 × 10 μm region, comparable to many polished surfaces. Two types of microstructure were also observed; periodic striations forming either a striped or a checkered structure were present, with wavelengths between 1 and 2 μm, and amplitude of approximately 2 nm; in other cases, “cracked mud”-like patterns were observed. These microstructures could be related to strain-induced surface roughening; preliminary calculations are presented that are consistent with this hypothesis.