Solid solution hardening — a comparison of two models

In this paper, a discrete-obstacle and a collective model of solution hardening are compared. In the former model, interaction between a dislocation and a single solute is considered, while in the latter, the dislocation line interacts collectively with a row of solutes. Model predictions are compared with experimental data for CuMn and NbMo single crystal systems and a NiC polycrystal system. The collective model gives better results for the two fcc systems while the bcc system cannot be explained well by either. The limitations and modelling capability of the two approaches are discussed with respect to the experimental information.