Dislocation-mediated creep process in nanocrystalline Cu

作者:Mu Jun Wei; Sun Shi Cheng; Jiang Zhong Hao*; Lian Jian She; Jiang Qing
来源:Chinese Physics B, 2013, 22(3): 037303.
DOI:10.1088/1674-1056/22/3/037303

摘要

Nanocrystalline Cu with average grain sizes ranging from similar to 24.4 to 131.3 nm were prepared by the electric brush-plating technique. Nanoindentation tests were performed within a wide strain rate range, and the creep process of nanocrystalline Cu during the holding period and its relationship to dislocation and twin structures were examined. It was demonstrated that creep strain and creep strain rate are considerably significant for smaller grain sizes and higher loading strain rates, and are far higher than those predicted by the models of Cobble creep and grain boundary sliding. The analysis based on the calculations and experiments reveals that the significant creep deformation arises from the rapid absorption of high density dislocations stored in the loading regime. Our experiments imply that stored dislocations during loading are highly unstable and dislocation activity can proceed and lead to significant post-loading plasticity.

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