A study of primary and conjugate slip in crystals of alpha-brass

Abstract

When a single crystal of alpha-brass is strained in tension the conjugate slip system does not become fully active until the tensile axis has “overshot” the [100]–[111] symmetry line appreciably. Experiments on such crystals described in the present paper show that the amount of overshoot is substantially independent of the temperature and rate of straining and is unaffected by intermediate strain ageing treatments. Easy glide in these crystals is accompanied by the passage of Lüders bands along the specimen and so cannot be distinguished from yield elongation. When two Lüders bands on different slip systems meet, each forms a barrier to the passage of the other which is impenetrable until the applied stress reaches the level at which conjugate slip normally propagates. An explanation of latent hardening and overshoot is proposed on the basis of these results.