Nanocrystalline grain boundary engineering: Increasing \(\Sigma\)3 boundary fraction in pure Ni with thermomechanical treatments

Grain boundary networks should play a dominant role in determining the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline metals. However, these networks are difficult to characterize and their response to deformation is incompletely understood. In this work, we study the grain boundary network of nanocrystal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Bober, David B, Kumar, Mukul, Rupert, Timothy J
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 16.01.2020
Subjects
Cycles
Grain boundaries
Grain growth
High temperature
Mechanical properties
Nanocrystals
Plastic deformation
Temperature
Thermomechanical treatment
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Summary:Grain boundary networks should play a dominant role in determining the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline metals. However, these networks are difficult to characterize and their response to deformation is incompletely understood. In this work, we study the grain boundary network of nanocrystalline Ni and explore whether it can be modified by plastic deformation. Mechanical cycling at room temperature did not lead to structural evolution, but elevated temperature cycling did alter the grain boundary network. In addition to mechanically-driven grain growth, mechanical cycling at 100 \(\deg\)C led to a 48% increase in \(\Sigma\)3 boundaries, determined with transmission Kikuchi diffraction. The extent of boundary modification was a function of the number of applied loading cycles and the testing temperature, with more cycles at higher temperatures leading to more special grain boundaries. The results presented here suggest a path to grain boundary engineering in nanocrystalline materials.
ISSN:2331-8422