Strain rate dependent tensile plasticity of ultrafine-grained Cu/Ni laminated composites

Tensile properties of ultrafine grained Cu/Ni laminated composites prepared by dual-bath electrodeposition technique were investigated by tensile tests at different strain rates ranging from 1×10−5 to 1×10−2 s−1. The results show that the stress gradient close to heterogeneous interfaces established at high strain rates may influence mechanical properties of the ultrafine-grained Cu/Ni laminates, leading to a simultaneous increase in strength and ductility as the strain rate increases from 1×10−5 to 1×10−2 s−1. The effect of such stress gradient in the laminated composites is analyzed to understand the abnormal increase in ductility with strain rate.