A simple kinetic parameter indicating the origin of the relaxations induced by point(-like) defects in metallic crystals and glasses

Computer simulation shows that an increase of the volume V due to point defects in a simple metallic crystal (Al) and high entropy alloy (Fe20Ni20Cr20Co20Cu20) leads to a linear decrease of the shear modulus G. This diaelastic effect can be characterized by a single dimensionless parameter K = dln G/dln V. For dumbbell interstitials in single crystals K ≈ −30 while for vacancies the absolute K-value is smaller by an order of magnitude. In the polycrystalline state, K ≈ −20 but its the absolute value remains anyway 5-6 times larger than that for vacancies. The physical origin of this difference comes from the fact that dumbbell interstitials constitute elastic dipoles with highly mobile atoms in their nuclei and that is why produce much larger shear softening compared to vacancies. For simulated Al and high entropy alloy in the glassy state, K equals to −18 and −12, respectively. By the absolute magnitude, these values are by several times larger compared to the case of vacancies in the polycrystalline state of these materials. An analysis of the experimental data on isothermal relaxations of G as a function of V for six Zr-based metallic glasses tested at different temperatures shows that K is time independent and equals to ≈−43, similar to interstitials in single-crystals. It is concluded that K constitutes a important simple kinetic parameter indicating the origin of relaxations induced by point(-like) defects in the crystalline and glassy states.