Deformation Structures in Aluminium Containing Small Particles

The evolution has been studied of the deformation structures in polycrystalline aluminium containing 3.8 vol% of small Al2O3 particles. The material was deformed by cold-rolling to deformation levels between 4 and 90% (plastic strain between 0.04 and 2.3) and was examined in the TEM. Correlations were sought between the deformation microstructures seen and those found in similarly treated aluminium without particles.

The changes in microstructure which occur with increasing strain are discussed in the context of the work hardening behaviour of metals containing small, non-shearable particles.