Ductility enhancement of tungsten after plastic deformation

An unusual room temperature mechanical behavior of pure tungsten is investigated by focusing on three specimens prepared with different microstructures: as-received (hot-rolled), recrystallized, and cold-rolled specimens. Contrary to ordinary expectations in metallic materials, only the cold-rolled specimen exhibits significant plastic deformation during tensile testing, with improved strength and ductility, while the recrystallized and the as-received specimens fail in the elastic region. We further provide an explanation of such characteristics by systematically utilizing experimental and theoretical analysis at a small scale: nano-indentation tests clarify the inherent mechanical response inside grains and provide a statistical distribution of the maximum shear stress during pop-in events, corresponding to onset of plastic yielding; atomistic simulations provide information on the overall fracture strength of various grain boundaries. By comparing the maximum shear stress and the grain boundary fracture stress, we could explain that the distinctive plasticity in the cold-rolled specimen is caused by the movement of pre-existing dislocations before grain boundary fracture. This contrasts the recrystallized and as-received specimens, where grain boundary fracture occurs prior to the nucleation of dislocations or activation of dislocation sources. [Display omitted] •Distinctive plasticity of cold rolled tungsten was investigated at room temperature.•The more pre-existing dislocations, the lower shear stress for plastic yielding.•Molecular dynamic simulations provide the fracture stress of grain boundaries, ∼16 GPa.•Cold rolled tungsten has lower stress for plastic yielding than the fracture stress.•Ductility was enhanced by the dislocation activation prior to intergranular fracture.