THE NATURE OF 2-STAGE EMBRITTLEMENT OF AMORPHOUS-ALLOYS

A model of two-stage temper brittleness of amorphous alloys is propose d implying that the first stage of embrittlement is controlled by the nucleation of a quasi-brittle crack, and the second stage, by its prop agation. Zn the assumption that crack nucleation occurs in the zone of a restrained shear band in free volume regions, an adequate agreement between theory and experiment was obtained; specifically, an adequate description was given of catastrophic embrittlement on introduction o f phosphorus and of restoration of plasticity under the action of a th ermal shock.