Breaking the strength-ductility paradox in advanced nanostructured Fe-based alloys through combined Cu and Mn additions. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kong, H.J.; Yang, T.; Chen, R.; Yue, S.Q.; Zhang, T.L.; Cao, B.X.; Wang, C.; Liu, W.H.; Luan, J.H.; Jiao, Z.B.; Zhou, B.W.; Meng, L.G.; Wang, A.; Liu, C.T.
• Is Part Of: Scripta materialia. Number 186(2020)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 218
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Advanced nanostructured Fe-based alloys -- Nano-scale Cu precipitation -- Transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) -- Grain boundary precipitation -- Strength-ductility paradox; Materials -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; Metalen; Legeringen; Materiaalkunde; Metals, metalworking and machinery industries; Metals; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2020.05.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6462

Abstract

Abstract: The strength-ductility paradox is a long-sought challenge for all engineering materials. In this study, we escaped the strength-ductility trade-off by engineering nano-scale heterogeneities carefully in the advanced nanostructured Fe-based alloys through alloying with Cu and Mn additions. We demonstrated a triple ductility enhancement by 20% together with a strength improvement of 100MPa compared to the alloys with sole Cu additions, overturning a common understanding of the strength-ductility trade-off. The strength-ductility enhancement is attributed to the complex interplay between the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) and the coherent nano-scale Cu precipitates as well as the resultant heterogeneous stress–strain partitioning and dislocation interactions. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract