Transformation of dislocation patterns in fatigued copper single crystals

Abstract

The transition from the so-called matrix to persistent slip bands (PSBs) during the fatigue of copper single crystals and the transition of the dislocation arrangement of PSBs formed at 300 K to that characteristic for a deformation temperature of 77 K have been investigated by cyclic deformation tests and transmission electron microscopy. Strain localization occurs well before the first fragments of the typical ladder-like dislocation arrangement of PSBs can be identified. The results indicate that the motion of dislocation walls plays an important role in establishing the ladder-like dislocation arrangement. After a sharp decrease of the deformation temperature at constant amplitude of resolved plastic shear strain, only a certain volume fraction of the PSBs remains active, but with a larger intrinsic amplitude of plastic shear strain.