Nanoindentation characteristics and recovery capacity of amorphous CuxTa100-x/Cu crystalline nanolaminates

•The STZs are mainly formed around the indentation region in the CuxTa100-x layers.•The peak force for the 4-layer ACNLs is much higher than that for the 10-layer ACNLs.•The f0.05 at the v = 100 m/s is remarkably higher than that in the other cases.•The damage degree of the CuTa/Cu ACNLs increase as the t increases.•As increasing Cu component percentage in the CuTa MGs, the recovery ratio increase. Through molecular dynamics simulations, the nanoindentation with the cylindrical indenter is carried out on the amorphous CuxTa100-x/Cu crystalline nanolaminates (ACNLs). With changing the number of layers, penetration speed, experiment temperature, and composition distribution in the CuxTa100-x layers, the nanoindentation characteristics and recovery capacity of the ACNLs are studied. By inserting the Cu crystal phases into the CuxTa100-x bulk metallic glasses, the formation and development of the shear transformation zones are inhibited, resulting in the plasticity of the CuxTa100-x is enhanced. The typical mechanical factors such as shear strain, von Mises stress, recovery ratio, indentation force, and dislocations of the ACNLs are significantly affected by changing the experiment conditions and profoundly discussed.