Dual Phase Synergy Enabled Large Elastic Strains of Nanoinclusions in a Dislocation Slip Matrix Composite

Journal Article · 30 April 2018 · Nano Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b00427 · OSTI ID:1480436

Zhang, Junsong ^[1]; Hao, Shijie ^[2]; Jiang, Daqiang ^[2]; Huan, Yong ^[3]; Cui, Lishan ^[2]; Liu, Yinong  ^[1]; Ren, Yang ^[4]; Yang, Hong ^[1]

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1. The Univ. of Western Australia, Western Australia (Australia)
2. China Univ. of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing (China)
3. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China)
4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Freestanding nanomaterials (such as nanowires, nanoribbons and nanotubes) are known to exhibit ultra-large elastic strains and ultra-high strengths. However, harnessing their superior intrinsic mechanical properties in bulk composites has proven to be difficult. A recent breakthrough has overcome this difficulty by using a martensitic phase transforming matrix, in which ultra-large elastic strains approaching the theoretical limit is achieved in Nb nanowires embedded in the matrix. This discovery, whereas breaking a long-standing challenge, still limits our ability of harnessing the exceptional properties of nanomaterials and developing ultrahigh strength bulk materials to a narrow selection of phase transforming alloy matrices. In this study, we investigated the possibility to harness the intrinsic mechanical properties of nanoinclusions in conventional dislocation slip matrix based on a principle of synergy between the inclusion and the matrix. The small spacing between the densely populated hard and dislocation-impenetrable nanoinclusions departmentalize the plastic matrix into small domains to effectively impede dislocation motion within the matrix, inducing significant strengthening and large local elastic strains of the matrix, which in turn induced large elastic strains in the nanoinclusions. This dual phase synergy is verified in a Ti₃Sn inclusions/B2-NiTi(Fe) plastic matrix model materials system. The maximum elastic strain of Ti₃Sn inclusion obtained in the dislocation slip matrix is comparable to that achieved in a phase transforming matrix. As a result, this finding opens new opportunities for the development of high-strength nanocomposites.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Australian Research Council; National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1480436
• Journal Information: Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 18; ISSN 1530-6984
• Publisher: American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English