Recent studies of glass-forming metallic systems have revealed intriguing complexity, e.g. unusual shifts in radial distribution functions with temperature change or upon mechanical loading in the elastic or plastic regime. Nearest neighbour distances and medium-range order structural arrangements appear to change, e.g. shorten upon heating or become larger with decreasing temperature. Concomitantly, temperature changes as well as static or dynamic mechanical loading within the nominally elastic regime can trigger significant changes in glass properties, which are directly correlated with local non-reversible configurational changes due to non-affine elastic or anelastic displacements. All these findings strongly suggest that the characteristics of the atomic structure decisively determine the properties of the glass and of nanostructured materials derived from glass-forming systems.

Residual stress engineering is widely used in the design of new advanced lightweight materials. For metallic glasses the attention has been on structural changes and rejuvenation processes. High energy scanning x-ray diffraction strain mapping reveals large elastic fluctuations in metallic glasses after deformed under triaxial compression. Transmission electron microscopy proves that structural rejuvenation under room temperature deformation relates to the shear band formation that closely correlates to the underlying distribution of elastic heterogeneities. Micro-indentation hardness mapping hints at an unsymmetrical hardening/softening after compression and further reveals the competing effects of stress and structure modulation. Molecular dynamics simulations provide an atomistic understanding of the correlation between shear banding and fluctuations in the local strain/stress heterogeneity. Thus, stress engineering and elastic heterogeneity together with structure modulation is a promising approach for designing metallic glasses with enhanced ductility and strain hardening ability.

Recent studies of glass-forming metallic systems have revealed intriguing complexity, e.g. unusual shifts in radial distribution functions with temperature change or upon mechanical loading in the elastic or plastic regime. Nearest neighbour distances and medium-range order structural arrangements appear to change, e.g. shorten upon heating or become larger with decreasing temperature. Concomitantly, temperature changes as well as static or dynamic mechanical loading within the nominally elastic regime can trigger significant changes in glass properties, which are directly correlated with local non-reversible configurational changes due to non-affine elastic or anelastic displacements. All these findings strongly suggest that the characteristics of the atomic structure decisively determine the properties of the glass and of nanostructured materials derived from glass-forming systems.

Residual stress engineering is widely used in the design of new advanced lightweight materials. For metallic glasses the attention has been on structural changes and rejuvenation processes. High energy scanning x-ray diffraction strain mapping reveals large elastic fluctuations in metallic glasses after deformed under triaxial compression. Transmission electron microscopy proves that structural rejuvenation under room temperature deformation relates to the shear band formation that closely correlates to the underlying distribution of elastic heterogeneities. Micro-indentation hardness mapping hints at an unsymmetrical hardening/softening after compression and further reveals the competing effects of stress and structure modulation. Molecular dynamics simulations provide an atomistic understanding of the correlation between shear banding and fluctuations in the local strain/stress heterogeneity. Thus, stress engineering and elastic heterogeneity together with structure modulation is a promising approach for designing metallic glasses with enhanced ductility and strain hardening ability.

Score I: Consolidation Of Ti And Ti-6Al-4V-Chips Achieving Bulk Nanomaterials [1]. The two most important Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) methods [2] - Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) and High Pressure Torsion (HPT) - were used for recycling and/or upcycling of titanium chips. To check the quality of the consolidated materials, results of mechanical testing, texture analysis, and of optical and electron microscopy were compared with those of the bulk counterparts. It is concluded that full consolidation i.e. the recycling of chips using SPD is possible at temperatures which not only are significantly lower than those of melting but also than those of sintering while reaching the same density. However,  the chips must be prevented from mutual sliding as plastic deformation is essential for successful consolidation. Still, small sizes of chips, enhanced pressures, as well as elevated temperatures prove as beneficial to successful for consolidation.

Score II: Effect Of High Pressure Torsion On The Magnetic Properties Of Two Fe-Based Metallic Glasses. Recently, High Pressure Torsion (HPT) was applied not only for achieving massive samples out of Fe-based metallic glasses but also for their crystallization [3,4], in order to increase the saturation magnetization. Magnetic measurements by means of Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) of the two Fe-based metallic glasses Vitroperm Fe_73.9Cu₁Nb₃Si_15.5B_6.6 and Makino Fe_81.2Co₄Si_0.5B_9.5P₄Cu_0.8 were undertaken. In contrast to the Vitroperm alloy, the Makino alloy showed – after applying at least 4 turns of HPT - an increase of magnetization by 10%, and a complete removal of HPT-induced increase of the coercivity related to deformation induced internal stresses. These effects occurred strictly in parallel to a HPT-induced crystallization which was not observed in the Vitroperm alloy [5]. It can be concluded that SPD processing of soft magnetic amorphous alloys appears as a viable alternative to the addition of nanocrystallizing elements, at least unless the material specific crystal systems are too complex to enable SPD induced crystallization [5].

Score I: Consolidation Of Ti And Ti-6Al-4V-Chips Achieving Bulk Nanomaterials [1]. The two most important Severe Plastic Deformation (SPD) methods [2] - Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) and High Pressure Torsion (HPT) - were used for recycling and/or upcycling of titanium chips. To check the quality of the consolidated materials, results of mechanical testing, texture analysis, and of optical and electron microscopy were compared with those of the bulk counterparts. It is concluded that full consolidation i.e. the recycling of chips using SPD is possible at temperatures which not only are significantly lower than those of melting but also than those of sintering while reaching the same density. However,  the chips must be prevented from mutual sliding as plastic deformation is essential for successful consolidation. Still, small sizes of chips, enhanced pressures, as well as elevated temperatures prove as beneficial to successful for consolidation.

Score II: Effect Of High Pressure Torsion On The Magnetic Properties Of Two Fe-Based Metallic Glasses. Recently, High Pressure Torsion (HPT) was applied not only for achieving massive samples out of Fe-based metallic glasses but also for their crystallization [3,4], in order to increase the saturation magnetization. Magnetic measurements by means of Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM) of the two Fe-based metallic glasses Vitroperm Fe_73.9Cu₁Nb₃Si_15.5B_6.6 and Makino Fe_81.2Co₄Si_0.5B_9.5P₄Cu_0.8 were undertaken. In contrast to the Vitroperm alloy, the Makino alloy showed – after applying at least 4 turns of HPT - an increase of magnetization by 10%, and a complete removal of HPT-induced increase of the coercivity related to deformation induced internal stresses. These effects occurred strictly in parallel to a HPT-induced crystallization which was not observed in the Vitroperm alloy [5]. It can be concluded that SPD processing of soft magnetic amorphous alloys appears as a viable alternative to the addition of nanocrystallizing elements, at least unless the material specific crystal systems are too complex to enable SPD induced crystallization [5].