Rejuvenation of metallic glasses by homogeneous flow: A review

The excess Gibbs free energy of metallic glasses induces structural relaxation and embrittlement, limiting their practical application. Rejuvenation can reverse the structural relaxation and drive them to higher energetic states, but usually introduces inevitable shear bands. We reviewed the recent progress on rejuvenation by homogeneous flow. A homogeneous initial state enables distributed plasticity via activating shear transformation zones. Advanced strategies like elastostatic loading, ultrasonic vibration, and cyclic loading are evaluating, discussing how they avoid strain localization and bring global rejuvenation by kinetic control. Focusing on the potential energy landscape and the interplay between β- and α-relaxation processes, we show these strategies inject energy, promote structural heterogeneity, and decouple property trade-offs. Finally, we proposed perspectives on designing the next generation of MGs by homogeneous flow via multi-scale modeling and artificial intelligence.