Strain-induced deformation of the porous structure in binary glasses under tensile loading

The evolution of porous structure and mechanical properties of binary glasses under tensile loading were examined using molecular dynamics simulations. We consider vitreous systems obtained in the process of phase separation taking place after a rapid isochoric quench of a glass-forming liquid to temperatures below the glass transition point. The porous structure in undeformed samples varies from a connected porous network to a random distribution of isolated pores with increasing average density. We find that the elastic modulus follows a power-law dependence on the average glass density and the pore size distribution at small strain remains nearly the same as in quiescent samples. Upon further loading, the pores become significantly deformed and coalesce into larger voids that leads to formation of system-spanning empty regions associated with failure of the material.