| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1578756 | Materials Science and Engineering: A | 2011 | 5 Pages |
The influence of strain on the hardness of an electrochemically deposited nanocrystalline Ni–20 wt.% Fe alloy processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) for 20 and 30 revolutions was investigated. Strain softening followed by a stable hardness value was observed. Structural investigations revealed that, while dislocation density was important, continuous grain growth played a major role in the strain softening. The stable hardness indicates that an equilibrium structure was achieved, supporting a dynamic balance between deformation-induced grain growth and grain refinement and between deformation-induced dislocation generation and dislocation annihilation.
► A nanocrystalline Ni–Fe alloy was processed by HPT to 20 and 30 revolutions. ► A strain softening stage and a stable hardness stage were observed. ► The strain softening is due to grain growth and dislocation density reduction. ► The stable hardness indicates that an equilibrium structure was achieved.
