The effect of γʹ distribution on the deformation behavior of alloy 718Plus has been examined in specimens subjected to uniaxial tensile testing till fracture as well as interrupted at 1.8 % eng. strain at room temperature and 650 °C. The deformation mechanisms were studied in these specimens, comprising the unimodal (USTD and BSS) and the bimodal (BSD and USD) γʹ distributions with varying volume fractions of precipitates. The USTD specimen, containing a higher volume fraction of γʹ with smaller interparticle spacing, deformed through weakly coupled dislocation shearing. Conversely, in the BSS specimen, having a lower volume fraction of γʹ with larger interparticle spacing, predominant looping, and shearing by strongly coupled dislocations were observed. However, shearing of γʹ by strongly coupled dislocations was the prevalent mechanism of dislocation-particle interaction in the bimodal specimens, irrespective of the testing temperature. The bimodal USD specimen achieved over 20 % higher uniform elongation in contrast to the standard specimen (USTD) without any considerable reduction in strength, thus limiting the strength ductility trade-off. The bimodal specimens also sustained prolonged strain hardening prior to the onset of plastic instability, where the strain hardening behavior was found to be consistent with the nature of dislocation-precipitate interactions.
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