Strategies for improving ductility of ordered intermetallics

Ordered intermetallics possess attractive high-temperature properties; however, low ductility and brittle fracture limit their use as engineering materials in many cases. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the recent progress in the development of ductile ordered intermetallics and summarizes the strategies used to improve the tensile ductility of ordered intermetallics, including control of ordered crystal structures, engineering grain-boundary structure and chemistry, eliminating environmental embrittlement, microstructure optimization, control of phase stability, and promoting transformation-/twining-induced plasticity. The basic ideas and related mechanisms underlying these ductilizing strategies are discussed. In addition, a brief mention of the current use of intermetallic alloys for structural and corrosion applications is made.