Synthesis, characterization, and nanoindentation response of single crystal Fe–Cr–Ni alloys with FCC and BCC structures

Fe-based alloys are used extensively in many structural applications including under irradiation conditions in the nuclear industry. In this study, model Fe–Cr, Fe–Ni and Fe–Cr–Ni alloys that are the basis of many structural steels were synthesized as single crystals and characterized. The compositions investigated were Fe–15Cr, Fe–30Cr, Fe–30Ni and Fe–15Cr–15Ni (at%). Several key mechanical properties were determined which will be useful in further studies of irradiation/deformation-induced defects. Incipient plasticity and slip characteristics were investigated by nanoindentation on (001) and (1¯10) surfaces, and hardness, modulus, pop-in behavior and theoretical strength were determined. The slip trace patterns after microindentation were imaged in a microscope. A novel slip trace analysis was developed and the underlying deformation mechanisms identified. The analysis shows that under both (001) and (1¯10) indentations, the activated slip system for the BCC alloys is {112}〈111〉; for the FCC alloys the activated slip plane is {111}. These results were confirmed with finite element simulations using a slip-based crystal-plasticity model. Finally, the effects of heterogeneous pop-in mechanisms are discussed in the context of incipient plasticity in the four different alloys.