Decelerated aging in metallic glasses by low temperature thermal cycling

Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry measurements on different bulk metallic glasses show no measurable rejuvenation upon deeply cooled (cryogenic) thermal cycling. This applies both to as-quenched and well-annealed samples. Extensive molecular dynamics simulations of a generic model glass former corroborate these observations. We disentangle the effects of aging from those of thermal treatment and show that aging is slowed down but not stopped—neither reversed—during thermal cycling. These observations are corroborated further by a survey of energy distribution, which continues narrowing, albeit with a smaller rate.