What is the limit of nanoparticle strengthening?

D. C. Chrzan, J. W. Morris, Y. N. Osetsky, R. E. Stoller, S. J. Zinkle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The stress required to deform a perfect crystal to its elastic limit while maintaining perfect periodicity, the so-called ideal strength, sets the gold standard for the strength of a given material. Materials this strong would be of obvious engineering importance, potentially enabling more efficient turbines for energy production, lighter materials for transportation applications, and more reliable materials for nuclear reactor applications. In practice, the strength of engineering materials is often more then two orders of magnitude less than the ideal strength due to easily activated deformation processes involving dislocations. For many materials, precipitate strengthening is a promising approach to impede dislocation motion and thereby improves strength and creep resistance. This observation begs the question; What are the limits of nanoparticle strengthening? Can the ideal strength of a matrix material be reached? To answer these questions, we need a detailed, atomic scale understanding of the interactions between dislocations and obstacles. Fortunately, simulations are beginning to explore this interaction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-177
Number of pages5
JournalMRS Bulletin
Volume34
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2009

Funding

DCC and JWM acknowledge the sup port of the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DMR-0706554. YNO, RES, and SJZ acknowledge the support of the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering and the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract DE-AC05- 000R22725 with UT-Battelle, LLC.

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