The diffuse behaviour of atomic species in a metallic glass were studied as a function of excess free volume, introduced in the form of localized defects. Diffusion of both atomic species increased as the excess free volume increased. Two different behaviours were detected: a transitory high-mobility regime which followed the introduction of the excess free volume, and a low mobility regime which started acting as the introduced excess free volume spread over the entire system. In the high mobility regime, a description of the behaviour of atomic-level properties such as local pressure, shear stress and free volume density around diffusing atoms was attempted.

A Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Effects of Excess Free Volume on the Diffusion in Metallic Glasses. Rosato, V., Cleri, F.: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 1992, 144[C], 187-95