Formation of nanolaminated amorphous/crystalline structure in the multicomponent system under severe plastic deformation

Al, Zr, Ni, Co, Fe and Cr were introduced into a Cu plate that was further subjected to severe plastic deformation using ball collisions. It was demonstrated that the application of severe plastic deformation to multicomponent systems induces atomic-scale intermixing and leads to the formation of an alternating laminated amorphous/crystalline composite structure with a mean lamella thickness of around 10 nm. The crystalline lamellae were related to the multicomponent non-equilibrium solid solutions based on Cu. The hardness of the as-fabricated composite was almost ten times that of the initial Cu plate.

► Al, Zr, Ni, Co, Fe and Cr were introduced into a Cu plate.
► Cu plate was further subjected to severe plastic deformation.
► Severe plastic deformation induces atomic-scale intermixing.
► Nanolaminated amorphous/crystalline composite structure was formed.
► Hardness increased more than ten times.