ANELASTICITY AND STRUCTURAL RELAXATION OF THE METALLIC GLASS Fe₄₀ Ni₄₀ B₂₀

Abstract
Internal friction, Q^-1, and magnetic energy loss, tan δ, were used to trace atomic rearrangements in metallic glass Fe₄₀ Ni₂₀ B₂₀ during the course of its transformation to the crystalline phase. An internal friction peak showed itself in the relaxation spectrum before the onset of crystallization, associated with a drop in the magnetic energy loss. From an isothermal study of the time decay at different temperatures of Q^-1 and tan δ, and using the cross-cut method, the atomic rearrangements effected by thermal heating were found to be activated by an energy of 0.97 x 10^-19 J. The concept of a quantum void called vacy capable of migration and producing local order in the amorphous structure is here presented and identified.