Micro-Mechanical Responses of Ultrafine-Grained Materials Processed through High-Pressure Torsion

Abstract

The processing of metals through the application of high-pressure torsion (HPT) provides the potential for achieving exceptional grain refinement in bulk metal solids. These ultrafine grains in the bulk metals usually show superior mechanical and physical properties. Especially, the development of micro-mechanical behavior is observed after significant changes in microstructure through processing and it is of great importance for obtaining practical future applications of these ultrafine-grained metals. Accordingly, this presentation demonstrates the evolution of small-scale deformation behavior through nanoindentation experiments after HPT on various metallic alloys including a ZK60 magnesium alloy, a Zn-22% Al eutectoid alloy and a high entropy alloy. Special emphasis is placed on demonstrating the essential microstructural changes of these materials with increased straining by HPT and the evolution of the micro-mechanical responses in these materials by measuring the strain rate sensitivity.