Role of stacking fault energy in strengthening due to cryo-deformation of FCC metals

The effectiveness of the cryogenic (CT) rolling vis-à-vis room temperature (RT) rolling on strengthening is significantly affected by stacking fault energy (SFE) and there is an optimum SFE at which CT rolling is most effective. Studies on Al, Al alloy AA6061, Cu, Cu–4.6Al, Cu–9Al and Cu–15Al (in at.%) alloys revealed that in metals with very high and very low SFEs, the strength difference between CT and RT rolled samples is <10%. The Cu–4.6Al alloy with an intermediate SFE revealed maximum enhancement of strength (25–30%). These results are explained by changes in deformation mechanisms with SFE and temperature. High SFE metals deformed by dislocation slip and low SFE metals deformed by twinning during CT and RT rolling. Metals with intermediate SFEs deformed by twinning during CT rolling but by dislocation slip during RT rolling, and this makes the CT rolling most effective over RT rolling in enhancing the strength.

Research highlights▶ There is an optimum SFE at which maximum increase in strength due to cryogenic rolling is obtained. ▶ At the optimum SFE twinning occurs during cryogenic rolling and slip occurs at room temperature. ▶ The strengths obtained by rolling are comparable to those obtained by ECAP processing.