Superstrength of nanostructured metals and alloys produced by severe plastic deformation

Metals and alloys produced by severe plastic deformation (SPD) are characterized by not only an ultrafine grain size, but also other structural features, such as nonequilibrium grain boundaries, nanotwins, grain-boundary segregations, and nanoparticles. The present work deals with the study of the effect of these features on the strength of SPD metals and alloys. In particular, it has been shown that, with segregations on grain boundaries and nonequilibrium boundaries, the yield stress of the material can exceed considerably the values extrapolated to the range of ultrafine grains using the Hall-Petch relationship.