Small-volume aluminum alloys with native oxide shell deliver unprecedented strength and toughness

Shi-Hao Li; Wei-Zhong Han; Ju Li; Evan Ma; Zhi-Wei Shan

doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2016.12.055

Small-volume aluminum alloys with native oxide shell deliver unprecedented strength and toughness

Shi-Hao Li
, Wei-Zhong Han
, Ju Li
, Evan Ma
, Zhi-Wei Shan

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mechanically robust nanoscale metallic materials are highly desirable in many miniaturized devices. However, the lack of strain hardening and controllable plasticity plagues such small-volume metals. Using Al-4Cu alloy as an example, here we show that a submicron-sized metallic material with ultrathin native oxide shell exhibits a high degree of deformation controllability, unprecedented strain hardening, size strengthening and toughness, in uniaxial tensile deformation. The metal/native oxide “composite” is easy to make, and the emergent properties extend well beyond the benchmark range known for metals in a normalized (i.e., dimensionless) strength-toughness plot. The origin of the combination of strengthening and plastic stability is that an intact ultrathin native oxide shell exerts a strong confinement on dislocation movement and annihilation, thereby breaking the envelope on dislocation storage and strain hardening achievable in small-volume metals. © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	202-209
Journal	Acta Materialia
Volume	126
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2016.12.055
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2017
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.51471128, 51231005, 51321003). W.Z.H. would like to thank the support of Youth Thousand Talents Program of China and the Young Talent Support Plan of XJTU. J.L. acknowledges support by NSF DMR-1410636 and DMR-1120901. S.H.L appreciates M.S.D for the kind assistance during the earlier stage of this project.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Research Keywords

Aluminum
Native oxide shell
Small-volume metals
Strength
Toughness

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title = "Small-volume aluminum alloys with native oxide shell deliver unprecedented strength and toughness",

abstract = "Mechanically robust nanoscale metallic materials are highly desirable in many miniaturized devices. However, the lack of strain hardening and controllable plasticity plagues such small-volume metals. Using Al-4Cu alloy as an example, here we show that a submicron-sized metallic material with ultrathin native oxide shell exhibits a high degree of deformation controllability, unprecedented strain hardening, size strengthening and toughness, in uniaxial tensile deformation. The metal/native oxide “composite” is easy to make, and the emergent properties extend well beyond the benchmark range known for metals in a normalized (i.e., dimensionless) strength-toughness plot. The origin of the combination of strengthening and plastic stability is that an intact ultrathin native oxide shell exerts a strong confinement on dislocation movement and annihilation, thereby breaking the envelope on dislocation storage and strain hardening achievable in small-volume metals. {\textcopyright} 2016 Acta Materialia Inc.",

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AU - Li, Shi-Hao

AU - Han, Wei-Zhong

AU - Li, Ju

AU - Ma, Evan

AU - Shan, Zhi-Wei

N1 - Publication details (e.g. title, author(s), publication statuses and dates) are captured on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis at the time of record harvesting from the data source. Suggestions for further amendments or supplementary information can be sent to [email protected].

PY - 2017/3/1

Y1 - 2017/3/1

N2 - Mechanically robust nanoscale metallic materials are highly desirable in many miniaturized devices. However, the lack of strain hardening and controllable plasticity plagues such small-volume metals. Using Al-4Cu alloy as an example, here we show that a submicron-sized metallic material with ultrathin native oxide shell exhibits a high degree of deformation controllability, unprecedented strain hardening, size strengthening and toughness, in uniaxial tensile deformation. The metal/native oxide “composite” is easy to make, and the emergent properties extend well beyond the benchmark range known for metals in a normalized (i.e., dimensionless) strength-toughness plot. The origin of the combination of strengthening and plastic stability is that an intact ultrathin native oxide shell exerts a strong confinement on dislocation movement and annihilation, thereby breaking the envelope on dislocation storage and strain hardening achievable in small-volume metals. © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc.

AB - Mechanically robust nanoscale metallic materials are highly desirable in many miniaturized devices. However, the lack of strain hardening and controllable plasticity plagues such small-volume metals. Using Al-4Cu alloy as an example, here we show that a submicron-sized metallic material with ultrathin native oxide shell exhibits a high degree of deformation controllability, unprecedented strain hardening, size strengthening and toughness, in uniaxial tensile deformation. The metal/native oxide “composite” is easy to make, and the emergent properties extend well beyond the benchmark range known for metals in a normalized (i.e., dimensionless) strength-toughness plot. The origin of the combination of strengthening and plastic stability is that an intact ultrathin native oxide shell exerts a strong confinement on dislocation movement and annihilation, thereby breaking the envelope on dislocation storage and strain hardening achievable in small-volume metals. © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc.

KW - Aluminum

KW - Native oxide shell

KW - Small-volume metals

KW - Strength

KW - Toughness

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U2 - 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.12.055

DO - 10.1016/j.actamat.2016.12.055

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 1359-6454

VL - 126

SP - 202

EP - 209

JO - Acta Materialia

JF - Acta Materialia

ER -

Small-volume aluminum alloys with native oxide shell deliver unprecedented strength and toughness

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

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