Simultaneously enhancing the ductility and strength of cryorolled Zr via tailoring dislocation configurations

Dislocation configurations, e.g. dislocation tangles, cells and lamellas, in pure Zr have been tailored by cryorolling in the strain rate range of ε̇=0.59–2.24 s−1, demonstrating a significant effect on mechanical properties. A simultaneous enhancement in the ductility and strength is obtained in the Zr cryorolled at ε̇=2.24 s−1. The enhancement of ductility is due to the motion of preexisting dislocations under high tensile stress in dislocation lamella configurations yielded at the high strain rate, and the enhancement of strength results from the increase of dislocation density in the cryorolled Zr.