Effects of Helium Implantation on the Tensile Properties
and Microstructure of Ni<sub>73</sub>P<sub>27</sub> Metallic Glass
Nanostructures
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Abstract
We report fabrication and nanomechanical
tension experiments on
as-fabricated and helium-implanted ∼130 nm diameter Ni<sub>73</sub>P<sub>27</sub> metallic glass nanocylinders. The nanocylinders
were fabricated by a templated electroplating process and implanted
with He<sup>+</sup> at energies of 50, 100, 150, and 200 keV to create
a uniform helium concentration of ∼3 atom % throughout the
nanocylinders. Transmission electron microscopy imaging and through-focus
analysis reveal that the specimens contained ∼2 nm helium bubbles
distributed uniformly throughout the nanocylinder volume. In situ
tensile experiments indicate that helium-implanted specimens exhibit
enhanced ductility as evidenced by a 2-fold increase in plastic strain
over as-fabricated specimens with no sacrifice in yield and ultimate
tensile strengths. This improvement in mechanical properties suggests
that metallic glasses may actually exhibit a favorable response to
high levels of helium implantation