Shear-induced softening of nanocrystalline metal interfaces at cryogenic temperatures

• Published in: Scripta materialia Vol. 143; no. C
• Main Authors: Chandross, Michael, Curry, John F., Babuska, Tomas F., Lu, Ping, Furnish, Timothy A., Kustas, Andrew B., Nation, Brendan L., Staats, Wayne L., Argibay, Nicolas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier 01.01.2018
• Subjects: MATERIALS SCIENCE

We demonstrate inverse Hall-Petch behavior (softening) in pure copper sliding contacts at cryogenic temperatures. By kinetically limiting grain growth, it is possible to generate a quasi-stable ultra-nanocrystalline surface layer with reduced strength. In situ electrical contact resistance measureme...