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Scale law of complex deformation transitions of nanotwins in stainless steel.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the deformation behavior of metallic materials containing nanotwins (NTs), which can enhance both strength and ductility, is useful for tailoring microstructures at the micro- and nano- scale to enhance mechanical properties. Here, we construct a clear deformation pattern of NTs in austenitic stainless steel by combining in situ tensile tests with a dislocation-based theoretical model and molecular dynamics simulations. Deformation NTs are observed in situ using a transmission electron microscope in different sample regions containing NTs with twin-lamella-spacing (λ) varying from a few nanometers to hundreds of nanometers. Two deformation transitions are found experimentally: from coactivated twinning/detwinning (λ < 5 nm) to secondary twinning (5 nm < λ < 129 nm), and then to the dislocation glide (λ > 129 nm). The simulation results are highly consistent with the observed strong λ-effect, and reveal the intrinsic transition mechanisms induced by partial dislocation slip.

SUBMITTER: Chen AY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6440981 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:We describe here the relationship between grain structure, deformation mechanism and fracture characteristics in an austenitic stainless steel. This was accomplished using the novel concept of phase reversion that enabled a wide range of grain size from nanograined/ultrafine grained (NG/UFG) to coarse-grained (CG) regime to be obtained in a single material through change in temperature-time annealing sequence. In the NG/UFG structure, a marked increase in abundance of stacking faults (SFs) and twin density with strain was observed that led to a decrease in the average spacing between adjacent SFs, thus converting stacking faults into twins. Twinning in NG/UFG structure involved partial dislocations and their interaction with the grain boundaries, including SF overlapping and the coordinated nucleation of partial dislocations from the grain boundaries. The plastic zone in the NG/UFG structure resembled a network knitted by the intersecting twins and SFs. With SFE ~30 mJ/m2, the minimum stress for twin nucleation was ~250?MPa for the experiment steel and the corresponding optimal grain size (dop) wa ~120?nm. In contrast, in the CG structure, strain induced martensite formation was the deformation mechanism. The difference in the deformation mechanism led to a clear distinction in the fracture behavior from striated fracture in high strength-high ductility NG/UFG alloy to microvoid coalescence in the low strength-high ductility CG counterpart. The underlying reason for the change in fracture behavior was consistent with change in deformation mechanism from nanoscale twinning in NG/UFG alloy to strain-induced martensite in the CG alloy, which is related to change in the stability of austenite with grain size. An analysis of critical shear stress required to initiate twinning partial dislocations in comparison to that required to nucleate shear bands is presented. The appearance of striated fracture in the NG/UFG alloy suggests a quasi-static step wise crack growth process.

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Scale law of complex deformation transitions of nanotwins in stainless steel.

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