Structural relaxation which was introduced by hydrostatic pressures was observed experimentally in metallic glass. The pressure dependence of the structural state was seen in the shape of the glass-transition peak that was deduced by means of differential scanning calorimetry after annealing at 563K, under pressures of up to 0.75GPa. An analysis of the effect, using the free-volume theory, yielded a formation volume of 0.0059nm3 for defects in the glass. When combined with the previously determined pressure dependence of Au diffusivity, a value of 0.005nm3 was deduced for the migration volume for Au diffusion.

Pressure-Induced Structural Relaxation in Amorphous Pd40Ni40P20: The Formation Volume for Diffusion Defects G.Ruitenberg, P.De Hey, F.Sommer, J.Sietsma: Physical Review Letters, 1997, 79[24], 4830-3