 only as pentagons in an order known as five-fold rotational
symmetry. However, in studies of a zirconium-copper-aluminum metallic glass,
they found there are clusters of squares and hexagons — in addition to clusters
of pentagons, some of which form chains — all located within the space of just
a few nanometers. "One or
two nanometers is a group of about 50 atoms—and it's how those 50 atoms are
arranged with respect to one another that's the new and interesting part,"
Voyles says.

This could
help manufacturers fine-tune such properties of metallic glasses as ductility,
the ability to change shape under force without breaking, and formability, the
ability to form a glass without crystalizing.

Measuring the atomic structure of glass at this scale has
been extremely difficult. Researchers know that, at a few tenths of a
nanometer, atoms in metallic glasses have the same distances between them as
they do in crystals. They also know that at long distances—hundreds of
nanometers—there's no order left. "But what happens in between, at this'magic' length of one to
three nanometers, is very hard to measure experimentally and is essentially
unexplored in experiments and simulations," says Voyles.

They used a scanning transmission electron microscope which
can generate an electron probe beam two nanometers in diameter — the ideal size
for examining atoms on a length scale of one to three nanometers. "And
that, fundamentally, is what makes the experiments work and gives us access to
this information that's otherwise very difficult to obtain," he says. "We can match our experimental
probe in size right to the size of what we want to measure."

They coupled the experimental data from the microscope with
a numerical model to conduct simulations that accurately reflect the
experiments. There were several clues in the properties of some metallic glasses
that these competing geometric structures might exist. Those arise from the
interrelationships of structure, processing and properties. "If we understand how the structure
controls, for example, glass-forming ability or the ability to change shape on
bending or pulling, and we understand how different elements participate in
these different kinds of structures, that gives us a handle on controlling
properties by adjusting the composition or adjusting the rate at which the
material was cooled or heated to change the structure
only as pentagons in an order known as five - fold rotational 
 isotropy. However, in cogitation of a zirconium - copper - aluminum metallic looking glass, 
 they establish there are clusters of square and hexagon — in addition to clusters 
 of pentagons, some of which form chains — all settle within the space of just 
 a few nanometer. " One or 
 two nanometers is a group of about 50 atoms — and it's how those 50 atoms are 
 arranged with respect to one another that's the new and interesting region, " 
 Voyles says. 

 This could 
 help manufacturers all right - tune such properties of metallic glasses as ductility, 
 the ability to switch shape under military unit without breaking, and formability, the 
 ability to form a glass without crystalizing. 

 Measuring the nuclear structure of glass at this scale has 
 been extremely difficult. Researchers acknowledge that, at a few tenths of a 
 nanometer, atoms in metallic glasses have the same distances between them as 
 they do in crystals. They also know that at retentive distances — hundreds of 
 nanometer — there's no decree leave. " But what happens in between, at this'magic' length of one to 
 three nanometer, is very hard to quantify experimentally and is essentially 
 unexplored in experiments and model, " says Voyles. 

 They used a scanning transmission electron microscope which 
 can generate an electron probe beam two nanometers in diameter — the ideal size 
 for examining atoms on a length scale of one to three nanometer. " And 
 that, fundamentally, is what reach the experiments work and gives us access to 
 this information that's differently very difficult to obtain, " he says. " We can match our experimental 
 probe in size right to the size of what we want to measure. " 

 They coupled the experimental data from the microscope with 
 a numeral model to lead simulations that accurately reflect the 
 experiment. There were respective clues in the properties of some metallic glasses 
 that these competing geometric structure might exist. Those arise from the 
 interrelationships of social organization, processing and properties. " If we understand how the structure 
 controls, for example, glass - forming ability or the ability to change shape on 
 bending or pulling, and we understand how unlike elements participate in 
 these unlike kinds of structures, that gives us a handle on manipulate 
 properties by adjusting the composition or adjust the rate at which the 
 material was cooled or heated to change the structure
 onpy as pentagons in an oraer known as firw-fold cotatiohal
symmegry. However, in studies of a vircinium-xopper-aluminum metalliz glass,
thvy found rhert are clusters of squares and hswagonv — in addition jo clusters
ox pentagons, soke oy which form chains — all located witrin the soace of just
a sew mwnomsnevs. "One or
two nanometers is a grohp of auout 50 atoms—and ot's how those 50 atoms are
argangfd with respect to one anothet thwr's the new avd interesuiug part,"
Voylgs says.

This could
help manufacturdrs fnne-tune sucy proogrties of mevallic glasses as ductilitf,
the abolity to changc sha'e ubder force without brxaking, and formabilijy, the
abilhtv to form a glass wityoyt cristalhzine.

Nearurjnj tge atolic structure of glass ar this scale has
beem qqyremely diffjcult. Wefearchers know that, at a few tenths of d
nahometer, atoms in metalluc glasses have the swme distagces between them as
they do in crystals. They also know ghau qt lovt fistances—hundreds of
nanometers—there's no order megt. "But what happcns in between, at yhls'kwgic' length ow one ck
tgree nanometers, is very hwrd ti measure exprrimentally and is essentiaoly
unexploreb ib experiments and dimulations," sayx Voykes.

They used a scanning trahsmission epectron mjzroscope which
cav gvnerdte an electron probe beam two nanonetexs in dixmetgr — the ideal sizf
for cfamining atoms on w lenyth swale of onf to three nanometers. "And
that, fnidamentally, ix fhan makes tke expcriments work agd gives us aceess to
tkis inwormation nhat's othxrwise very qifficult to mhtain," he sayv. "We can matxh oyr expefkmental
probe im size riykt to the size of what we went jo measure."

They cobklee the experimenyal daea fcom tra microscope witf
a vimerizal modtj bo zondict simulations that acchrately reflect thr
ewperimentw. There rere several vlues in the propegties of some mejallic glasses
that these competjng geomehrig structures iighb exyst. Those crise from the
interrelationships of strurture, processing and ptoperties. "If we underxuand how the xtruceure
contrmls, for example, glasw-forming ability pr the ability to chahge shdpe oj
bending or pulling, and we understand how different elements participate un
thesx qifferent kjnds of snruetuxes, thae giter us a handle on controlling
properties by adjusving the cmm'osition or adjusting the ratr xt which the
mxterial was cooled or hezted to vhange the structure
only as pentagons in an order known rotational However, in of a zirconium-copper-aluminum are of squares and — in addition clusters of pentagons, some of which chains — all located within the space of just a few nanometers. "One two nanometers is a group of about 50 atoms—and it's how those 50 are with to another that's the new and interesting part," Voyles says. This could help manufacturers fine-tune such properties metallic glasses as ductility, the ability to change under force without breaking, formability, the ability to form glass crystalizing. Measuring atomic of at this scale been extremely difficult. Researchers know that, at a few tenths of a nanometer, atoms in metallic glasses the same them as do crystals. also know that distances—hundreds of nanometers—there's no order left. in between, at this'magic' length of one to nanometers, is hard to measure experimentally and is unexplored in experiments and simulations," says Voyles. They a scanning transmission electron microscope which can generate an electron probe beam two nanometers in the ideal size for atoms on a scale one three "And that, is what makes the experiments work and gives us access to information that's otherwise very difficult to obtain," he says. "We our probe in size to the size of we to measure." They coupled data the numerical to simulations that accurately reflect experiments. There were several clues the properties of some geometric structures might exist. Those arise from the of structure, processing and properties. "If we how the structure controls, for example, glass-forming ability or the ability to shape on pulling, and we understand how different elements participate these different kinds of that gives us a handle on controlling properties by the or adjusting rate at which material was cooled heated to change
 only as pentagons in an order kNown as five-Fold rOtaTioNaL
symMetrY. However, in studIEs of A zirconium-copper-aluminUm metAlLIc glASs,
They fOund theRE aRE CluStErS of SqUArEs and HexAgons — in Addition to CluStErs
of pentagoNS, sOme of which ForM chains — all loCatEd withIn The SPace oF juSt
a feW nanomETers. "OnE or
two nanOmETers is A Group of ABOuT 50 atoMs—and it's how those 50 aTOmS Are
arranged witH respeCt TO oNE AnoTheR that's the nEw And inTErestinG PaRT,"
vOylES says.

This coulD
help manufaCTurErs finE-tUne SUch proPertiEs OF meTallic glassEs as Ductility,
The abiLIty to chANge shapE under ForCe wIthoUT bReAkiNg, ANd fORmAbiLIty, The
abiliTy To Form a GlasS WITHout CryStalIzing.

measuring the aTomIc stRUctUre of Glass At thIs Scale Has
beeN extrEmEly difficult. ResEarcHers know tHat, At A feW tEnths OF a
nanoMetEr, aToms in mEtallic GLasSeS HAVe The same distances beTwEEN tHem as
theY do in cRYsTaLS. They alsO kNow That AT Long dIstaNCeS—hundredS of
nanOMeTeRs—there'S nO order LeFt. "BUt wHat haPPens In betwEen, at thiS'magiC' Length of one to
tHRee nanometers, IS vERY hARd to MeaSure experimEntaLLy anD is eSSeNtiALly
unExploReD In EXperiments and simulaTiOns," sayS VoylEs.

They used a scAnning tranSMISsion eleCtroN MiCRoscope which
caN geneRate an elecTRon probe Beam tWo nanomeTers in diaMETer — the idEal SizE
foR exAMInIng atoms on a leNGTh scAlE of one tO thRee nanoMetErs. "and
ThaT, fUndamentaLly, is whaT mAkEs ThE exPerimENts work aNd GivEs Us aCcess TO
this iNformAtioN tHaT'S otHerwise VErY DIffiCuLt To obTaiN," hE says. "we caN MatCh our exPerimentaL
prOBe in SiZe Right to The size of what We Want to measUrE."

ThEy coupLED the expeRimental data from the micrOScope wiTh
a NumerIcal Model to coNduCt simuLatIOns thaT accurAtely ReFleCT The
exPERiMenTs. there were sEVEraL clueS iN the PropertIes of some metallic gLAssEs
that these coMpeTing GEOmEtrIC sTRucTuREs mIGHt exist. Those ariSe from the
iNtERrElationshiPS of StRucture, ProcessIng anD PropertIes. "If we unDerstand hOw The sTRUctUre
controlS, for examPle, glass-fORming ABiLity oR thE abiliTy To cHange Shape oN
BenDing oR pulliNg, And we uNdersTaNd how difFerent elements participaTe in
thEse diFfeRent kinds Of sTRucTures, that GiveS us a handle On cOntRolliNg
pROpertIes bY AdJusTIng thE comPOsition or ADjUstING tHe rate at whiCH THe
mAteriAl wAS cooleD or hEated to change the sTRucture
 only as pentagons in an o rder known  as f ive -fo ld  rot atio nal
symmetry.H owev er, in studies of a zi rconi um - copp e r- alumi num met a ll i c  gl as s, 
th ey fo und t her e are c lusters of  sq ua res and hexa g on s — in add iti on to cluste rsof pen ta gon s , som e o f whi ch for m  chain s — all l oc a ted wi t hin the s pa ce o f just
a few nano m et e rs. "One or
tw o nano me t er s isa g roup of ab ou t 50a toms—an d  i t ' s  ho w  those 50 ato ms are
arra n ged  withre spe c t to o ne an ot h erthat's thenewand inter esting part,"V oyles s ays.
Thi s c ould he lp  ma nu f act u re rsf ine -tune su ch  p roper ties o f meta lli c gl asses  as ductility ,
t he a b ili ty to  chan ge s ha pe un der fo rce w it hout breaking,andformabili ty,  t heab ility to for m a  gl ass wit hout cr y sta li z i n g. 

Measuring the at om i c  s tructure  of gl a ss  a t  this sc al e h as
b e e n ext reme l ydifficul t. Res e ar ch ers kno wthat,at  afew  tent h s of  a
nan ometer,atoms in metallic gl a sses have the sa m e  d i stan ces  between th em a s 
the y do in  cr y stals . The ya ls o  know that at longdi stance s—hun dreds of
nano meters—the r e ' s no ord er l e ft .  "But what hap pensin between ,  at this 'magi c' lengt h of onet o 
three n ano met ers , i s ve ry hard to me a s ureex perimen tal ly andisess ent ial ly 
unexplor ed in ex pe ri me nt s a nd si m ulations ,"  sa ys  Vo yles. 
Theyuseda sc an ni n g t ransmis s io n elec tr on  mic ros co pe wh ichc angenerat e an elec tro n  pro be  b eam two  nanometers i ndiameter —  t heideals i ze
for e xamining atoms on a len g th scal e o f one  tothree nan ome ters."An d 
that,  funda menta ll y,i s  what m ak esth e experime n t s w ork a nd  giv es us a ccess to
this info r mat ion that's ot her wise v er y d i ff i cul tt o o b t ain," he says."We can ma tc h  o ur experim e nta lprobe i n sizeright to thesize of w hat we wa nt  tom e asu re."

They  coupled  the expe r iment a ldatafro m themi cro scope  witha  nu meric al mod el  to co nduct  s imulatio ns that accurately refl ect th e
exp eri ments. Th ere wer e several  clu es in thepro per tiesofs ome m etal l ic  gl a ssesthat these com p et ing g eo metric stru c t u res  migh t e x ist. T hose  arise from the
i n terrelationshi ps o f str uct u re,pr ocessing and p rop er t i es. "Ifwe  understand  how the  s t ructu re
con trols,  for ex a m pl e , glas s-fo rmi ng abilit y o rt he abil it yt o chan ge s ha pe onbendin g  orp u lling, and we un derst a n d how dif feren telement s  par ticipate i n
these dif ferent  kin ds of  struct ur es, th atgi ves us a h a ndle on c ontro lling
p ro pert ies  by ad just i n g the  com po sit ion or ad j u st i ng  t h e r ateat wh ic h th e
materia l  was coo led or heat ed  to c hanget he s tructure
 only_as pentagons_in an order known_as five-fold_rotational
symmetry._However, in_studies_of a zirconium-copper-aluminum_metallic glass,
they found_there are clusters of_squares and hexagons_—_in addition to clusters
of pentagons, some of which form chains — all located within_the_space of_just
a_few_nanometers. "One or
two nanometers is_a group of about 50_atoms—and it's_how those 50 atoms are
arranged with respect to_one_another that's the_new and interesting part,"
Voyles says.

This could
help manufacturers fine-tune such_properties of metallic glasses as ductility,
the_ability to change_shape_under_force without breaking, and_formability, the
ability to form a glass_without crystalizing.

Measuring the atomic structure of_glass at this scale has
been extremely difficult._Researchers know that, at a few_tenths of a
nanometer, atoms in_metallic glasses_have the same distances between_them as
they do_in crystals._They also know_that at long distances—hundreds of
nanometers—there's no_order left. "But_what happens in between, at this'magic'_length_of one to
three_nanometers,_is_very hard_to measure experimentally_and_is essentially
unexplored_in_experiments and simulations," says Voyles.

They used_a_scanning transmission electron microscope which
can generate an_electron probe beam two_nanometers_in diameter — the_ideal size
for examining atoms on_a length scale of one to_three nanometers._"And
that, fundamentally,_is what makes the experiments work and gives us access to
this_information that's otherwise very difficult to_obtain," he says. "We_can match_our_experimental
probe in size_right_to the_size of what we want to measure."

They_coupled the_experimental data from the microscope with
a_numerical model to conduct_simulations_that accurately reflect the
experiments. There were_several clues in the properties of_some metallic glasses
that these competing_geometric_structures_might exist. Those arise from_the
interrelationships of structure, processing and properties._"If we understand_how the structure
controls, for example, glass-forming ability_or_the ability to change shape on
bending_or_pulling, and we understand how different_elements_participate_in
these different kinds of structures,_that gives us a handle on_controlling
properties by adjusting the composition or adjusting the rate_at which the
material_was cooled or heated to_change_the_structure