The cross-slip energy unresolved

Abstract

Recent progress in dislocation dynamics modeling of work hardening has reawakened the interest in cross-slip, which can lead to dynamic recovery in fcc crystals. It is pointed out that neither continuum theory nor atomic modeling at present are able to reliably derive the reaction path and the activation energy of cross-slip. Classical continuum theory with the concept of Volterra dislocations fails, because during the nucleation process the effective Burgers vectors of the partials are not conserved and the specific atomic misfit energy changes. Atomistic modeling fails, because the ad hoc potentials used at present are unable to reliably predict the energies for atomic displacements far from equilibrium. It is, however, possible to derive the stress conditions necessary in order that cross-slip can spread. An important contribution to the driving force results from the ‘Escaig stress’ acting on the edge components of the partials forming a dissociated screw dislocation and changing their separation. Contrary to the widely held assumption, the driving force is however independent of whether the dislocation in the cross-slip plane will be expanded or compressed.