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.