Compressive plasticity of a La-based glass-crystal composite at cryogenic temperatures

The La 55 Al 25 Cu 10 Ni 10 –10 vol.% Ti glassy composites have excellent compressive strength and plasticity at room temperature (RT). At cryogenic temperature (77 K), neither the glassy matrix, nor the Ti particles undergo embrittlement, and the composite retains appreciable toughness. Surprisingly, despite significant shear band plasticity at 77 K, failure occurs in a mixed mode manner, with large areas showing quasi-cleavage features that appear to initiate from cracks at the glass-Ti interfaces, which also limit the overall plastic strain. Interface engineering is the key to further alloy development for even better properties.