High temperature deformation and extended plasticity in Mg single crystals

The high temperature deformation behavior of Mg single crystals was precisely investigated using orientation imaging microscopy. For this purpose, Mg single crystals of various orientations were tensile tested in vacuum at temperatures between 473 and 673?K. A strain rate of 4.2?×?10^?4?s^?1 was employed. The elongations to fracture depended strongly on crystal orientation, the lowest fracture strains being associated with multiple slip. Single crystals in which single slip was activated exhibited extended ductilities corresponding to more than 1.5 in true strain. The strong orientation dependence of the ductility can also be correlated with the ease of occurrence of dynamic recrystallization (DRX), which took place in the multiple-slip specimens. The role of twinning in the initiation of DRX is also discussed.     

Instability of plastic flow in the microstructure of alkali halide crystals

Spatial localization of deformation bands in LiF and KCl single crystals caused by instability of plastic flow in the strain rate range from 5 × 10^?6 to 2 × 10^?4 s^?1 was studied experimentally. The geometrical parameters of localized shift bands (LSB) were studied as a function of strain rate and temperature. To study the LSB relief, a surface profilometry technique was used for the first time, which made it possible to determine the LSB parameters at the early stages of plastic flow (for strains in the range from 0.5 to 2%). The formation and branching of LSB steps on the surface of a deformed crystal due to the generation and motion of dislocations were found to be scaled. It was shown experimentally that the LSB formation is a thermally activated process that occurs through dislocation glide and is limited by dislocation creep.     

Geometric dynamic recrystallization of austenitic stainless steel through linear plane-strain machining

ABSTRACT

Type 316L austenitic stainless steel was severely plastically deformed at room temperature using linear plane-strain machining in a single pass that imparted shear strains up to 2.2 at strain rates up to 2?×?10³ s^?1. The resulting microstructures exhibited significant grain size refinement and improved mechanical strength where geometric dynamic recrystallization was identified as the primary microstructural recrystallization mechanism active at high strain rates. This mechanism is rarely observed in low to medium stacking fault energy materials. The critical stress required for twin initiation is raised by the combined effects of refined grain size and the increase in stacking fault energy due to the adiabatic heating of the chip, thus permitting geometric dynamic recrystallization. The suppression of martensite formation was observed and is correlated to the significant adiabatic heating and mechanical stabilisation of the austenitic stainless steel. A gradient of the amount of strain induced martensite formed from the surface towards the interior of the chip. As the strain rate is increased from 4?×?10² s^?1–2?×?10³ s^?1, a grain morphology change was observed from a population of grains with a high fraction of irregular shaped grains to one dominated by elongated grain shapes with a microstructure characterised by an enhanced density of intragranular sub-cell structure, serrated grain boundaries, and no observable twins. As strain rates were increased, the combination of reduction in strain induced martensite and non-uniform intragranular strain led to grain softening where a Hall-Petch relationship was observed with a negative strengthening coefficient of ?0.08?MPa m^1/2.     

Nucleation of dynamic recrystallization and variant selection in copper bicrystals

Orientation-controlled copper bicrystals containing [001] symmetrical tilt boundaries aligned parallel to the loading axis were deformed in tension at 923?K and a strain rate of 4.2?×?10^?4?s^?1. The nucleation of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) was investigated along the grain boundary. For this purpose, both optical and orientation imaging microscopy methods were used. After grain-boundary migration (GBM) and bulging, nuclei appeared behind the most deeply indented grain boundary regions. The critical strain for nucleation was about one-quarter to one-half of the peak strain and depended on the misorientation angle. All the nuclei were twin-related (Σ3) to the matrices. Furthermore, all the primary twin traces were parallel to those of the inactive slip planes of the parent single crystals. Crystallographic analysis revealed the important role of the direction of GBM on twinning-plane variant selection. The characteristics of grain boundary nucleation depended sensitively on grain boundary character and on grain boundary mobility. The observed DRX nucleation mechanism is discussed in relation to the occurrence of GBM and twinning.     

Modelling the dynamic deformation and patterning in fcc single crystals at high strain rates: dislocation dynamics plasticity analysis

The deformation process in copper and aluminium single crystals under shock loading is investigated using a multiscale model of plasticity that couples discrete dislocation dynamics and finite element analyses. Computer simulations are carried out to mimic loading condition of high strain rates ranging from 10⁵ to 10⁷?s^?1, and short pulse durations of few nanoseconds involved in recent laser based experiments. The effects of strain rate, shock pulse duration and the nonlinear elastic properties are investigated. Relaxed configurations using dislocation dynamics show formation of dislocation micro bands and weak dislocation cells. Statistical analyses of the dislocation microstructures are preformed to study the characteristics of the local dislocation densities and the distribution of the instantaneous dislocations velocities.     

Grain refinement in coarse-grained 7475 Al alloy during severe hot forging

Grain refinement taking place in a coarse-grained 7475 Al alloy was studied in multidirectional compression at 490°C and at a strain rate of 3?×?10^?4?s^?1. The integrated flow curve displays significant work softening just after yielding and an apparent steady-state plastic flow at high strains. The structural changes are characterized by the development of deformation or microshear bands in coarse-grain interiors, followed by homogeneous evolution of new grains at high strains. The new grains are considered to be developed by a kind of continuous reaction through grain fragmentation that is similar to continuous dynamic recrystallization (cDRX). The mechanism of fine grain production and the factors controlling grain refinement during hot multidirectional deformation are discussed in detail.     

Low-temperature fatigue behaviour and development of dislocation structure in aluminium single crystals with single-slip orientation

Al single crystals oriented for single slip were cyclically deformed under constant plastic strain amplitudes between 1?×?10^?3 and 5?×?10^?2 at 77?K. Al single crystals showed hardening to saturation at all applied shear stress amplitudes. The resultant cyclic stress–strain curve (CSSC) showed a stress plateau in a range of plastic strain amplitude from 2?×?10^?3 to 2?×?10^?2. Surface observation revealed that multiple slip systems were active even at the strain amplitude in the plateau region. At plastic strain amplitudes corresponding to the plateau of the CSSC, persistent slip bands (PSBs) were formed parallel to the primary slip plane. In the PSBs, well-developed dislocation walls parallel to the {100} planes were observed. The microstructure in the PSBs was explained by the fact of multiple activation of the primary and critical slip systems. The above results indicate that the high stacking fault energy of Al is an important factor affecting the fatigue behaviour even at 77?K.     

Strength and plastic deformation of polycrystalline diamond composites

ABSTRACT

The use of nanopolycrystalline diamond has allowed a systematic study on deformation of polycrystalline diamond composites (PCDCs). Bulk PCDCs samples containing either Co or SiC as a binding agent were deformed under high pressure and temperature to strains up to 18% at strain rates ～10^?5?s^?1. All samples exhibit strong work hardening. The strength of PCDCs depends on the amount and type of binding agents and is consistently weaker than that of diamond single crystals. The weakening may be due to the binder materials, which play an important role in affecting grain boundary structures. In SiC-based PCDC, significant grain fragmentation occurs. Nearly all grain boundaries are wetted by SiC after large deformation, resulting in lower strength. In Co-based PCDC, the microstructure is dominated by dislocations, deformation twins, and separated grain boundaries. The density of deformation twins increases significantly with strain, with the twin domain width reaching as low as 10–20?nm at 14% strain.     

Stress relaxation in cadmium-silver alloy single crystals

A series of cadmium — silver alloy single crystals containing up to 0·25 at % Ag were deformed in tension at a strain rate of 1×10^?4s^?1. The tensile tests were carried out at temperatures between 77 and 199 K. Stress relaxation experiments were performed to investigate the concentration dependence of the activation volume. Over the temperature range investigated, the activation volume at beginning of deformation decreases proportionally toc ^?2/3 wherec is the atomic concentration of silver as solute. The results are discussed on the basis of the interaction between dislocations and solute atoms.     

Microscopical study of the formation of adiabatic shear bands in 4340 steel during dynamic loading

In this study, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalyser were used to analyse the changes in microstructure of AISI 4340 steel specimens caused by impact at high strain rates and large strains. The structures of the steel prior to dynamic deformation and after dynamic deformation were examined to understand on a microscale level, the mechanism of formation of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs). The study also includes the structural changes that occur during post-deformation annealing processes which may relate to understanding of the mechanism of formation of ASBs. Prior to deformation, the tempered steel specimens consisted of lenticular laths of α-ferrite with precipitated platelet and spherical M₃C carbides. After impact, the structure inside the shear band was characterized by refined and recrystallized grains immersed in dense dislocation structures. In addition, residual carbide particles were observed inside the shear bands due to deformation induced carbide dissolution. Regions away from the shear bands developed ‘knitted’ dislocation walls, evolving gradually into sub-boundaries and highly misoriented grain boundaries at increasing strains, leading to grain refinement of the ferrite. After impact, annealing the shear bands at 350?°C resulted in an increase in hardness regardless of the heat treatment before impact, amount of deformation and the time of annealing. This is because of the occurrence of extensive reprecipitation of dissolved carbides that existed in the steel structure prior to deformation. It is concluded that dynamic recovery/recrystallization, development of dislocation structures and carbide dissolution all contribute simultaneously to the formation of ASBs in quench-hardened steels.     

Thermomechanical response of an Ni–Ti–Cr shape-memory alloy at low and high strain rates

The thermomechanical response of an Ni–Ti–Cr shape-memory alloy is investigated at various initial temperatures, over a wide range of strain rates, using an Instron hydraulic testing machine and one of the modified split-Hopkinson-bar systems at the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials, University of California, San Diego. The transition stress for the stress-induced martensite formation is observed to be quite sensitive to the initial deformation temperature, but the yield stress of the resulting martensite is not. The linear transition stress–temperature relation with a slope of 8.5?MPa?K^?1, obtained in a quasistatic loading regime, seems to remain valid for strain rates up to 500–700?s^?1. The transition stress and the yield stress of the stress-induced martensite show strain-rate sensitivity, increasing monotonically with increasing strain rate. There exists a certain critical strain rate at which the transition stress equals the yield stress of the material. This critical strain rate determines the material's deformation behaviour; the material deforms by the formation of stress-induced martensites and their subsequent yielding, when the strain rate is less than this critical value, and through dislocation-induced plastic slip of the parent austenite, when the strain rate exceeds the critical value. It appears that the critical strain rate increases slightly with decreasing initial temperature.     

Point defect generation,nano-void formation and growth. I. Validation

The volume fraction of point defects generated as a function of plastic shear strain squared, γ², was derived from crystal plasticity concepts. The evolution was determined from the stress–strain values using a new constitutive relation which replicates the measured behavior with at least two fitted loci. Assuming that nano-voids form by clustering of vacancies, the nano-void diameter was found to be proportional to their spacing and shear strain with the constant being characteristic of point defect production during deformation. The predicted amount of point defect generated was validated using the previously determined resistivity of [100] copper single crystals deformed at 4.2?K and annealed at 296?K. Similar analysis of super-pure polycrystalline copper data affirmed that the dynamic annihilation parameter extrinsically incorporated in the new derivation is larger due to formation of slip clusters. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the mean slip-distance to inter-forest spacing ratio at Stage II to III transition indicates that the thermally activated drag of vacancy-creating jogs occurs above 150?K. For polycrystalline aluminum deformed at 296?K, it was concluded that the nuclei of the nano-voids were not part of the evolving dislocation array but were embedded in the grown-in microstructure. This hypothesis is pursued in the accompanying paper, Part II, and its prediction results in a criterion for ductile failure.     

Copper (50 MeV) and Oxygen (84 MeV) Ion Irradiation Probed Thermal,Structural and Optical Behavior of Polyethylene Terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films of 50?μm thickness were exposed to swift-heavy 50?MeV copper and 84?MeV oxygen ions, with fluence varying from 1?×?10¹¹ to 1?×?10¹³ ions cm^?2. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the irradiated samples. The XRD and DSC analysis indicated the loss of crystallinity during/after the irradiation. The FTIR spectra revealed the formation of alkyne end groups, C═C groups and structural deformation with increase of ion fluence. Considerable reduction in the value of the optical bandgap was inferred from the study of the UV-visible absorption curves.     

Ramp compression of tantalum to 330 GPa

We report on the stress–density and rate-dependent response for Ta, ramp compressed to 330?GPa with strain rates up to 5?×?10⁸?s^?1. We employ temporally shaped laser drives to compress Ta stepped foils over several to tens of nanoseconds. Lagrangian wave-profile analysis reveals a stress–density relationship which falls below the Hugoniot, above the hydrostat, and is consistent with ramp-compression experiments at lower strain rates. We also report on the peak elastic stress prior to plastic deformation as a function of strain rate for laser-driven ramp and shock-compression data spanning the 1–50?×?10⁷?s^?1 strain-rate range. When combined with previously published lower strain data (10¹–10⁷?s^?1), we observe a change in rate dependence, suggesting a transition from thermally activated to defect-limited (phonon drag) dislocation motion occurring at a strain rate of about 10⁵?s^?1.     

3D processing map and hot deformation behaviour of a new type Al–Zn–Mg alloy

ABSTRACT

The thermal compression behaviour of Al–Zn–Mg alloy was studied on a thermal simulator machine at the temperature range of 380–540°C and strain rate range of 0.01–10?s^?1. The constitutive equation and 3D processing map of the alloys were established. The microstructure characteristics of the alloy were studied by metallographic observation, electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) microstructure analysis. The results show that the peak stress of high-temperature deformation of alloy decreases with the increase of deformation temperature and increases with the increase of strain rate. The dynamic recovery of the alloy occurs at the temperature range of 380–460°C and the strain rate range of 0.01–0.1?s^?1. The dynamic recrystallization of the alloy occurs at the temperature range of 460–500°C and the strain rate range of 0.01–0.1?s^?1. The alloy maintains fine and uniform recrystallized grains at a temperature range of 460–480°C and a strain rate range of 0.01–0.1?s^?1, which is suitable for hot working.     

A study of the α ↔ γ transformation in pure iron: rate variations revealed by means of thermal analysis

The α???γ transformation in nominally high purity Fe is shown to occur with a stepped peak in differential thermal analysis on both heating and cooling at rates between 0.5?K?min^?1 and 10?K?min^?1. The composite peaks mark changes in the transformation rate. To endorse the findings, the instrumental output has been thoroughly analyzed providing evaluations of time lags, suggestions for calibration and for the use of the derivative of the peak. The change in rate occurred in all samples irrespective of their grain size (average values from 91?µm to 1100?µm). The rate of movement of the interface in the α???γ transformation is estimated between 4?×?10^?5?m?s^?1 and 3?×?10^?6?m?s^?1. The present results extend previous dilatometric work in which the rate variation was detected only for large grain size and low undercooling. Possible reasons for the variation in rate are outlined: local development of strain in the austenite due to lattice misfit with respect of the growing ferrite, formation of a ragged microstructure and pinning of the boundaries by impurity.     

The influence of strain rate on the visibility of dislocations in transmission electron microscopy images of deformed Ti–6 wt% Al–4 wt% V and in Timet 550

Samples of Ti–6?wt%?Al–4?wt%?V and Timet 550 (Ti–4?wt%?Al–4?wt%?Mo–2?wt%?Sn–0.5?wt%?Si) have been subjected to strain rates between 10^?1 and 10³?s^?1and detailed examination of the dislocation structure in the α grains has been carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For samples deformed to a strain of 0.1 at 10^?1?s^?1, detailed analysis of the defects can be carried out using all diffracting vectors and the presence of (c +?a) dislocations and a dislocations thus confirmed. In contrast, for samples strained to the same strain of 0.1 but at 5?s^?1, it is not possible to obtain images of dislocations when using any diffracting vectors other than 0002. Thus the presence of dislocations which have a Burgers vector containing a c component can be confirmed in the samples strained at 5?s^?1 but the presence of a-component dislocations can only be inferred from TEM of these samples because of the difficulty of obtaining images with diffracting vectors other than 0002. Limited observations on samples strained at 10³?s^?1 show that similar difficulties are found in imaging dislocations as are found in samples deformed at 5?s^?1 but at this strain rate, the highest used, the difficulties are reduced since images can be obtained in some grains using diffracting vectors other than 0002. These results are discussed in terms of the nature of damage as a function of strain rate and the factors that influence contrast from dislocations in crystals.     

Kinetics of accumulation of vacancy complexes in dislocated silicon under 60Co γ-ray irradiation

Abstract

Radiation defect accumulation in ⁶⁰Co γ-ray-irradiated n-type Si single crystals (ρ=150ωcm) with various densities of dislocations (N_D = 1 × 10⁴ to 1 × 10⁷ cm ^?2) introduced at plastic deformation was studied. The temperature dependences of the Hall coefficient were measured. The probabilities of interaction of vacancies with oxygen, phosphorus atoms, and dislocation line elements were determined. It has been established that with the increase of N_D they can increase at the expense of complication of dislocation structure, decrease during formation of impurity atmosphere near dislocations and compensation of deformation fields, and they do not change if complex formation of vacancies with impurities occurs far from dislocations. Kinetics of A- and E-centre accumulation in the crystals containing dislocations with different impurity atmosphere was described.     

Kinetics of high-temperature deformation of polycrystalline OFHC copper and the role of dislocation core diffusion

The mechanisms of the high-temperature deformation of oxygen-free high-conductivity (OFHC) copper have been evaluated over a wide temperature (300–950°C) and strain rate (0.001–100?s^?1) regime. The stress–strain behaviour in hot compression is typical of the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization with an initial peak in the flow stress followed by a steady state, preceded by oscillations at lower strain rates and higher temperatures. The results are analysed using the kinetic rate equation involving a hyperbolic sine relation of the steady-state flow stress with the strain rate. In the temperature and strain rate range covering 500–950°C and 0.001–10?s^?1, a stress exponent of 5 and an apparent activation energy of 145?kJ/mol were evaluated from this analysis. The power law relationship also yielded similar values (5.18 and 152?kJ/mol, respectively). On the basis of these parameters, the rate-controlling mechanism is suggested to be dislocation core diffusion. The flow stress for the OFHC copper data reported by earlier investigators for different oxygen contents is consistent with the above analysis and revealed that an oxygen content of less than about 40?ppm does not have any significant effect on the core diffusion since it is too low to ‘clog’ the dislocation pipes. At strain rates greater than 10?s^?1 and in the temperature range 750–950°C, the stress exponent is about 3.5 and the apparent activation energy is 78?kJ/mol, which suggests that the plastic flow is controlled by grain boundary diffusion.     

Plastic deformation behaviour of layer-grained silver polycrystalline from atomistic simulation

Two types of nanocrystalline polycrystalline silver models in bulk, film and nanowire forms were constructed with layer-grained or equiaxed grain morphologies and average grain sizes of ~7.8 and ~14.7 nm. Uniaxial tensile deformation was performed to investigate the effect of grain morphology and free surface on the plastic deformation behaviour under the strain rate of 5 × 10⁸ and 10⁷ s^?1 at 0.1 K. Grain Boundary (GB) orientation and dimensions in layer-grained morphology promoted the formation of sessile dislocation structures. Some dislocations interacted with each other and some dislocations got obstructed by stacking faults. However, the resulting configurations did not last long enough to cause strain hardening. Strain softening was observed in all models except for the layer-grained models in bulk form, where steady plastic flow was observed after yield. The location and orientation of free surfaces with respect to GBs imposed geometric constraints on the deformation mechanisms (GB sliding and formation of sessile dislocations) which produced asymmetric stress states that influenced the elastic as well as plastic response of the material. The yield stress and flow stress were much smaller at lower strain rate simulations. The proportion of perfect dislocations increased as the strain rate decreased from 5 × 10⁸ to 10⁷ s^?1 due to the decrease of applied stress. Dislocations were mainly emitted from grain boundaries or triple junctions at both high and low strain rate deformations. These results provided insights into the understanding of layer-grained nanocrystalline materials and the synthesis of materials with both high strength and ductility.