Indentation and Friction of Cu<sub>44</sub>Zr<sub>43</sub>Al<sub>10</sub>Nb<sub>3</sub> Bulk Metallic Glasses on Nano-Scale
Indentation and sliding friction of the as-cast, the relaxed and the crystallized Cu 44 Zr 43 Al 10 Nb 3 bulk metallic glass (BMG) are investigated on nanoscale by nanoindentation. The depth, the width and the morphology of the scratches formed by the tip of the nanoindentor are different, which reflect the differences in structure, not only between the glassy and the crystallized states but also between the two glassy states, the as-cast and the relaxed. The coefficient of sliding friction of Cu 44 Zr 43 Al 10 Nb 3 BMG is increased with increasing the load, and it is maximal for annealed at 683K. Improved plastic deformability is found for the relaxed one.