Chapter 4:

Chapter 4:
Strengthening Mechanisms
Strengthening Mechanisms
Relation between
dislocation motion and
mechanical behavior of
metals.
Principle: Restricting or
hindering dislocation
motion renders a material
harder and stronger
Aim: Increase the strength or hardness of materials
Strengthening By Grain and Sub
Strengthening By Grain and Sub
Grain Boundaries
Grain Boundaries
Ability of a metal to plastically deform depends on the ability of
dislocations to move.
Strengthening By Grain & Sub Grain Size
Strengthening By Grain & Sub Grain Size
Boundaries impede dislocation motion
Hall-Petch equation:

i
=
0
+ BD
-1/2
Precipitation Hardening
Precipitation Hardening
Precipitates inhibit dislocation motion. Ex:
Al-Cu system
Precipitation Hardening
Precipitation Hardening
TEM image of an Al-3.8% Cu alloy aged at 250
o
C for 2 hours showing CuAl2
precipitates.
Strength Of Composites
Strength Of Composites

c
(TS)=
f
(TS) V
f
+
m
(YS) V
m
Solid Solution Strengthening
Solid Solution Strengthening
Types of solid solution:
a. Substitutional solid solution
b. Interstitial solid solution
Solute and solvent atoms that
differ in size and electronic
character create a strain
whose stress field makes
materials harder for
dislocations to move.
Strain Hardening
Strain Hardening
For each increment of plastic
strain the stress must be
progressively increased.
Metals become harder,
because the dislocation
density increase, positioned
closer together, and repulsive,
so that the dislocation motion
is hindered.
Dispersion Hardening
Dispersion Hardening
Alloys can be strengthened by the addition
oxide particles that obstruct dislocation
motion. By adding Al
2
O
3
flakes and ThO
2
particles to aluminum and nickel matrices.
Martensite
Martensite
Hardening
Hardening
Martensite structure has
body centered tetragonal
(BCT) in which
dislocation motion is not
easy to move