Nanoductility in silicate glasses is driven by topological heterogeneity

摘要: The existence of nanoscale ductility during the fracture silicate glasses remains controversial. Here, based on molecular dynamics simulations coupled with topological constraint theory, we show that nanoductility arises from spatial heterogeneity atomic network's rigidity. Specifically, report localized floppy modes deformation in underconstrained regions glass enable plastic deformations network, resulting permanent change bond configurations. Ultimately, these heterogeneous events percolate, thereby a nonbrittle mode fracture. This suggests is intrinsic to multicomponent having heterogeneities.