Deformation mechanism maps for micro-grained, ultrafine-grained, and nano-grained materials

There are several deformation mechanisms that depend on grain size and are controlled by grain boundary diffusion. These mechanisms include: Coble creep, superplastic flow (micrograin superplastic flow and high-strain rate superplastic flow), and nanograin deformation. By combining the rate-controlling equations of these mechanisms and by making assumptions regarding triple-junction creep, a deformation map based on grain size was constructed. It is demonstrated that this map can account for the locations of experimental data representing three types of deformation behavior: micrograin superplasticity, high-strain rate superplasticity, and nanograin deformation.