Strain hardening and jump-like deformation of ultrafine polycrystalline Al-Li solid solutions at 0.5 K

Abstract

This is a study of the effect of microstructure created by severe plastic deformation (SPD) and annealing on strain hardening and jump-like deformation in Al-Li alloys. It is shown that under tension at 0.5 K, SPD processed polycrystals retain a significant strain hardening rate and have high strength and ductility. SPD also simulates unstable (jump-like) flow of the polycrystals owing to dislocation dynamics that shows up as stress jumps in the tension curve. The average amplitude of the jumps increases with strain, while the dislocation amplitude distribution corresponds to collective motion of dislocation avalanches with a distinctive scale. Jump-like deformation is partially suppressed by high-temperature annealing, while the distribution of the jump amplitudes is described by a power law. The relationship established between the coefficient of strain hardening and the average stress jump amplitude suggests a common dislocation dynamic for strain hardening and jump-like deformation at low temperatures. The observed features of low-temperature plastic deformation are treated as a consequence of changes in the grain sizes and density of dislocations owing to SPD and annealing.