Chapter 7.

Dislocations and Strengthening Mechanisms

7.1 Introduction
™ With the knowledge of the nature of dislocations and the role they play in the plastic deformation
process, we are able to understand the underlying mechanisms of the techniques that are used to
strengthen and harden metals and their alloys.
™ On a microscopic scale, plastic deformation corresponds to the net movement of large numbers of
atoms in response to an applied stress. During this process, interatomic bonds
must be ruptured and then reformed. In crystalline solids, plastic deformation
most often involves the motion of dislocations, linear crystalline defects that
were discussed in chapter 4.
™ This motion is called slip. Thus, the strength (resistance to deformation) can be
improved by putting obstacles to slip.

DISLOCATIONS AND PLASTIC DEFORMATION

™ Early studies led computed theoretical strengths of perfect crystals, which were
many times greater than those actually measured.
™ During 1930s, theories introduced explained this difference in mechanical
strengths by a type of linear defects called a dislocation.
™ In 1950s, the existence of such dislocation defects was established by direct
observation with electron microscope.

7.2 Basic Concepts

™ Edge and screw are the two fundamental dislocation types. See figures. Many dislocations in
crystalline materials have both edge and screw components; mixed dislocations.
™ Plastic deformation corresponds to the deformation of large number of dislocations. An edge
dislocation moves in response to a shear stress applied in the direction perpendicular to its line; see
figure.
™ Let plane A be the initial extra half-plane of atoms. When shear stress is applied (part a), plane A is
forced to the right; this in turn pushes the top halves B, C, D and so on in the same direction.
™ If the applied shear stress
is of sufficient magnitude,
the interatomic bonds of
plane B are detached
along the shear plane, and
the upper half of plane B
becomes the extra half-
plane as plane A links up
with bottom half of plane
B (part b).
™ This process is subsequently repeated for the other planes, such that the extra half-plane discretely
moves from left to right by successive and repeated breaking of bonds and shifting by interatomic
distances of upper half-planes. Ultimately this extra half-plane may emerge from right surfaces of
the crystal, forming an edge that is one atomic distance wide (part c).

1
™ The process by which plastic deformation is produced by dislocation is termed slip, the
crystallographic plane along which the dislocation line crosses is the slip plane (see figure above).

™ Dislocation motion is analogous to the mode of locomotion employed by a caterpillar. The

caterpillar forms a hump near its posterior end by pulling in its last pair of legs a unit leg distance.
The hump is propelled forward by repeated lifting of leg pairs. When the hump reaches the anterior
end, the entire caterpillar
has moved forward by the
leg separation distance.
This motion of hump
corresponds to the motion
of extra half-plane of
atoms.

™ Macroscopic plastic deformation simply corresponds to permanent deformation that results from
the movement of dislocations, or slips, in response to shear stress (see figure). Part (a) shows an
edge dislocation where the dislocation line moves
parallel in the direction of the applied shear. Part (b)
shows a screw dislocation where the dislocation line
motion is perpendicular to the stress direction. However,
the net plastic deformation for the motion of both
dislocation types is the same.
™ The direction of motion of the mixed dislocation line is
neither perpendicular nor parallel to the applied stress,
but lies somewhat in between.
™ All metals and alloys contain some dislocations that were
introduced during solidification, during plastic
deformation, and as a consequence of thermal stresses
that result from rapid cooling.
™ Dislocation density in a material is expressed as the total dislocation length per unit volume, or
equivalently, the number of dislocations that intersect a unit area of a random section. The units of
dislocation density are mm of dislocation /mm^3 or just 1/mm^2.
™ Dislocation densities as low as 103 / mm2 are typically found in carefully solidified metal crystals.
For heavily deformed metals, the density may run as high as 109 – 1010 /mm2. Heat treating a
deformed metal specimen can diminish the density to on the order of 105 – 106 /mm2.
™ For ceramic materials, dislocation density is between 10^2 – 10^4 /mm2. For silicon single
crystals (used in IC) the value lies between 0.1 – 1 /mm^2.

2
7.3 Characteristics of Dislocations
™ Strain fields (important dislocation characteristic) exist
around dislocations which are influential in determining the
mobility of the dislocations, as well as their ability to
multiply.
™ When metals are plastically deformed, some fraction of the
deformation energy (approx. 5%) is retained internally; the
remainder is dissipated as heat. The major portion of this
stored energy is strain energy associated with dislocations.
™ Consider the edge dislocation shown in the figure. Some
atomic lattice distortion exists around the dislocation line. Consequently, there are regions in which
compressive, tensile, and shear lattice strains are imposed in the neighboring atoms.
™ Atoms immediately above and adjacent to the dislocation line are squeezed together; may be
thought of as experiencing a compressive strain relative to atoms positioned far in the perfect
crystal.
™ Directly below the half-plane, lattice atoms sustain an imposed tensile strain
™ Shear strains also exist in the vicinity of the edge dislocation. However, for a screw dislocation,
lattice strains are pure shear only.
™ Lattice distortions may be considered as
strain fields that radiate from the dislocation
line. The strains extend into the surrounding
atoms with magnitude decreasing with radial
distance from dislocation.
™ Strain fields surrounding two (or more)
adjacent dislocations may interact such that
forces are imposed on each dislocation by
the combined interactions of all its
neighboring dislocations.
™ For example, consider two edge dislocations
that have the same sign and the same slip
plane (part a of the figure). The strain field
interaction is such there exists between these
two isolated dislocations a mutual repulsive
force that tends to move them apart.
™ Part (b) shows that two edge dislocations with the same slip plane but opposite sign will be
attracted to one another and dislocation annihilation will occur when they meet. The two extra half-
planes of atoms will align and become a complete plane.
™ Dislocation interactions are possible between edge, screw,, and/or mixed dislocations. Resulting
stain field are important in the strengthening mechanisms of metals.
™ During plastic deformation, the number of dislocations increases dramatically. Dislocation density
of highly deformed may be as high as 10^10 /mm^2. One important source of such increase is
existing dislocations which multiply. Also, grain boundaries as well as internal defects and surface
irregularities (scratches and nicks - stress concentrations) may serve as dislocation formation sites
during deformation.

3
7.4 Slip Systems
™ Dislocations do not move with the same degree of ease on all crystallographic planes of atoms and
in all crystallographic directions.
™ Ordinarily there is a preferred plane and in that plane there are specific directions along which
dislocation motion occurs. This plane is called the slip plane and the direction of movement is
called the slip direction. The combination of the slip plane and the slip direction is called the slip
system.
™ The slip system depends on the crystal structure of the metal and is such that the atomic distortion
(which accompanies the motion of a dislocation) is a minimum.
™ For a particular crystal structure, the slip plane is the plane that has the most dense atomic
packing; the greatest planar density. Also, the slip direction corresponds to the direction (in the slip
plane) that is most closely packed with atoms; the highest linear density. (see section 3.11). How
do we explain this?????
™ Since the distance between atoms is shorter than the average, the distance perpendicular to the
plane has to be longer than average. Being relatively far apart, the atoms can move more easily
with respect to the atoms of the adjacent plane.
™ Example: consider the FCC crystal structure, part
(a) shows a unit cell. There is a set of planes, the
{111} family, all of which are closely packed. A
{111}-type plane is indicated in the unit cell (part b).
™ Slip occurs along <110>-type direction within the
{111} planes as indicated in the figure. Hence,
{111} <110> represents the slip plane and direction
combination, or the slip system for FCC.
™ Several slip systems may exist for a particular crystal structure, the number of independent slip
systems represents the different possible combinations of slip planes and directions. For FCC, there
are 12 slip systems: 4 unique {111} planes and (within each plane) 3 independent <110>
directions.
™ Table below list the possible slip systems for FCC, BCC, and HCP crystal structures. For BCC and
HCP, slip is possible on more than one family of planes which are operable at elevated
temperatures.
™ Metals with FCC and BCC crystal structures have a relatively large number of slip systems (at least
12). These metals are quite ductile because extensive plastic deformation is possible along the
various systems. Conversely, HCP metals having few slip systems are normally quit brittle.

4
7.5 Slip in Single Crystals
™ As discussed previously, edge, screw, and mixed dislocations move in response to shear stresses
applied along a slip plane and in a slip direction.
™ Also, as noted in section 6.2, even though an applied stress may be pure tensile
(or compressive), shear components exist at all but parallel or perpendicular
alignments to the stress direction. These shear components are called resolved
shear stresses, and their magnitudes depend not only on the applied stress, but
also on the orientation of the both the slip plane and direction within that plane.
™ Let (see figure)
φ = angle between applied stress direction and the normal to slip plane.
λ = angle between applied stress direction and slip direction.
It can be shown that the resolved shear stress is
τ R = σ cos φ cos λ (7.1)

where σ is the applied stress.

™ In general, φ + λ ≠ 90 o . Tensile stress, slip direction, and the slip-plane normal
can not lie in the same plane.
™ A metal single crystal has a number of different slip systems that are capable of
operating. Each with different resolved shear stress (orientations differ). However, one slip system
is generally oriented most favorably; has the largest resolved shear stress:

τ R )max = σ (cosφ cos λ )max (7.2)

™ In response to an applied tensile (or compressive) stress, slip in a single crystal specimen starts on
the most favorably oriented slip system when the resolved shear stress reaches some critical value,
called the critical resolved shear stress λ crss ; it represents the minimum shear stress required to
initiate slip and hence when yielding occurs.
™ Therefore, the single crystal plastically deforms or yields when τ R )max = τ crss and the magnitude
of the applied stress required to initiate yielding (yield strength) is

τ crss
σy = (7.3)
(cos φ cos λ )max
™ The minimum stress necessary to introduce yielding occurs when a single crystal is oriented such
that φ = λ = 45 o , under these conditions

σ y = 2 τ crss (7.4)

™ For a single-crystal specimen that is stressed in tension, deformation will be as

shown, where slip occurs along a number of equivalent and most favorably
oriented planes and directions at various positions along the specimen length.
™ This slip deformation forms as small steps on the surface of the single crystal
that are parallel to one another and loop around the circumference of the
specimen as indicated. Each step results from the movement of a large
number of dislocations along the same slip plane.

5
™ On the surface of a polished single crystal specimen, these steps appear as lines, which
are called slip lines. A zinc single crystal that has been plastically deformed to the degree
that theses slip markings are noticeable as shown.
™ As extension of a single crystal continues, both the number of slip lines and slip step
width will increase.

See Example 7.1

Applied tensile stress along [010] direction, a) compute τ R along a (110) plane and in a [1
[ 1 11 ] direction when a tensile stress 52 MPa is applied, b) if τ crss =30 MPa on this
slip system, calculate magnitude of the applied tensile needed to initiate yielding.

φ = 45 o , λ = tan −1 ( a 2 / a ) = 54.7 o
a) τ R = σ cos φ cos λ = ( 52 )(cos 45 o )(cos 54.7 o ) = 21.3 MPa
τ crss 30 MPa
b) σy = = = 73.4 MPa
(cos φ cos λ )max (cos 45 o )(cos 54.7 o )

7.6 Plastic Deformation of Polycrystalline Materials

™ Deformation and slip here is more complex. Because of the random
crystallographic orientations of the numerous grains, the direction of slip
varies from one grain to another. For each, dislocation motion occurs
along the slip system that has the most favorable orientation. See a
photomicrograph of a polycrystalline copper specimen that has been
polished and then deformed. Slip lines (microscopic ledge-similar to steps
in single crystal) are visible. It appears that two slip systems operated for
most of the grains; two sets of parallel yet intersecting sets of lines.
™ During deformation, grain boundaries usually do not come apart or open
up. As a consequence, each individual grain is constrained (to some
degree) in the shape it may assume by its neighboring grains (see figure).
Before deformation the grains have approximately the same dimension in
all directions. After deformation, grains become elongated along the
direction in which the specimen was extended. 300 µm

6
7.7 Deformation By Twinning (not covered)

MECHANISMS OF STRENGTHENING IN MATERIALS

™ Often as materials engineers we need to design alloys having high strengths yet some ductility
and toughness. Ordinarily, ductility is sacrificed when alloy is strengthened. Several hardening
techniques are available.
™ Because macroscopic plastic deformation corresponds to the motion of large numbers of
dislocations, the ability of a metal to plastically deform depends on the ability of dislocations to
move.
™ So, by reducing the mobility of dislocations, the mechanical strength may be enhanced; need
greater mechanical forces to initiate plastic deformation. In contrast, the more unconstrained the
dislocation motion, the greater is the ability with which a metal may deform, and the softer and
weaker it becomes.
™ All strengthening techniques rely on the principle: “Restricting or hindering dislocation motion
renders a material harder and stronger”.
™ The discussion below is confined to strengthening mechanisms for single-phase metals: grain size
reduction, solid-solution alloying, and strain hardening. Deformation and strengthening of
multiphase alloys are more complicated.

7.8 Strengthening By Grain Size Reduction

™ The size of grains in a polycrystalline influences the
mechanical properties. Adjacent grains normally
have different crystallographic orientation and, of
course, a common grain boundary (see figure).
™ During plastic deformation, dislocation motion
(slip) must take place across this common boundary
(from grain A to grain B). The grain boundary acts
as a barrier to dislocation motion for two reasons:

7
 9 Since the two grains are of different orientations, a dislocation passing into grain B will have to
change its direction of motion; this becomes more difficult as crystallographic misorientation
increases.
9 The atomic disorder within a grain boundary region will result in a discontinuity of slip planes
from one grain into the other.
™ It should be mentioned that for high-angle grain boundaries, dislocations may not cross grain
boundaries during deformation; rather, a stress concentration ahead of a slip plane in one grain may
activate sources of new dislocations in an adjacent grain.
™ A fine-grained material (one that has small grains) is harder and stronger than one that is coarse
grained. The former has a greater total grain boundary area to impede dislocation motion. For
many materials, the yield strength σ y varies with grain size according to Hall-Petch equation:
σ y = σ o + k y d −1 / 2 (7.5)

Where d = average grain diameter, σ o and ky are

constants for a given material.
™ Equation (7.5) is not valid for both very large (coarse)
grain and extremely fine grain polycrystalline materials.
™ The figure shows the influence of grain size on the
yield strength of a 70 Cu – 30 Zn brass alloy. Note that
the grain diameter increases from right to left and is not
linear.
™ Grain size may be regulated by the rate of solidification
from the liquid phase, and also by plastic deformation
followed by an appropriate heat treatment.
™ Grain size reduction improves not only strength, but
also the toughness of many alloys.
™ Small-angle grain boundaries (4.6) are not effective in
interfering wit slip process because the slight
crystallographic misalignement across the boundary. However, the twin boundary will effectively
block slip and increase the strength of the material.

8
7.9 Solid-Solution Strengthening (see CD)
™ Alloying metals with impurity atoms (substitutional or interstitial) into solid solution (section 4.3)
is another technique to strengthen and harden metals. This is called solid-solution strengthening.
™ High-purity metals are almost always softer and weaker than alloys composed of the same base
metal. Increasing the concentration of impurity results in an attendant increase in tensile and yield
strengths. Figure shown indicates variation of tensile strength, yield strength, and ductility (%EL)
with nickel content for copper-nickel alloy.

™ Alloys are stronger than pure metals because impurity

atoms that go into the solid solution ordinarily impose
lattice strains on the surrounding host atoms. Lattice
strain field interactions between dislocations and these
impurity atoms result, and consequently dislocation
movement is restricted.
™ An impurity atom that is smaller than a host atom for
which it substitutes exerts tensile strains on the
surrounding crystal lattice (part a). (c)
™ Conversely, a larger substitutional atom imposes (d)
compressive strains in its vicinity (part c).
™ These solute atoms tend wonder and diffuse through the lattice and reach around dislocations so to
reduce the overall strain energy (cancel some of the strain in the lattice surrounding a dislocation).

9
 To accomplish this, a smaller impurity atom is located where its tensile strain will partially cancel
some of the dislocation’s compressive strain; adjacent to the dislocation line and above the slip
plane (see part b). A larger impurity atom wonders and diffuses through the lattice where its
compressive strain will partially cancel some of the dislocation’s tensile strain; below the
dislocation line (see part d).
™ An interstitial impurity atom (imposes compressive stains in its vicinity) wonders and diffuses
through the lattice where its compressive strain will partially cancel some of the dislocation’s
tensile strain; just below the dislocation line
™ For both cases, the resistance to slip is greater when impurity atoms are present. Also, the same
lattice strain interactions will exist between impurity atoms and dislocations that are in motion
during plastic deformation. Thus, a greater applied stress is necessary to first initiate and then
continue plastic deformation for solid-solution alloys, as opposed to pure metals; thus,
enhancement of strength and hardness.

7.10 Strain Hardening

™ Strain hardening is the phenomenon whereby a ductile metal becomes harder and stronger as it is
plastically deformed. Sometimes it is called work hardening or cold working (because it is
deformed at cold temperature relative to the absolute melting temperature of the metal).
™ May express the degree of plastic deformation as percent cold work rather than strain. Percent cold
work (%CW) is defined as:
⎛ A − Ad ⎞
% CW = ⎜⎜ o ⎟⎟ X 100 (7.6)
⎝ A0 ⎠
Where Ao = original area of the cross section that experiences deformation.
Ad = area after deformation.
™ Figure shown indicates for 1049 steel, brass, and copper: (a) the increase in yield strength, (b) the
increase in tensile strength, and (c) the decrease in ductility (%EL) with increasing %CW.

™ The price paid for the enhancement of strength and hardness is a reduction in the ductility (%EL)
of the metal as %CW increases.

10
™ Strain hardening is demonstrated in a stress-strain
diagram shown (section 6.8) – see figure repeated.
™ It can be explained: the dislocation density in a metal
increases with cold work (deformation) due to dislocation
multiplication or formation of new dislocations. Thus, the
average distance of separation between dislocations
decreases-dislocation are positioned closer together. One
the average, dislocation-dislocation strain interactions are
repulsive. The net result is that the motion of a
dislocation is hindered by the presence of other
dislocations. As the dislocation density increases,
resistance to dislocation motion becomes more
pronounced. Thus, stress needed to deform a metal
increases with increasing cold work.
™ Figure shown demonstrates the influence of cold work on the
stress-strain behavior for low-carbon steel.

Stress
™ Strain hardening is often utilized commercially to enhance the
mechanical properties of metals during fabrication procedures.
™ The effects of strain hardening may be removed by annealing heat
treatment (chapter 11).

See Example 7.2

%
co
ld
™ The above three mechanisms may be used to strengthen and wo
harden single-phase metal alloys. Of course they may be used in
rk Strain
conjunction with one another, for example, a solid-solution
strengthened alloy may also be strain hardened.

RECOVERY, RECRYSTALIZATION, AND GRAIN GROWTH

™ So far, plastically deforming a polycrystalline metal specimen at temperatures that are low relative
to its absolute melting temperature produces microstructural and property changes that include:
1) A change in grain shape (7.6),
2) Strain hardening (7.10), and
3) Increase in dislocation density (7.3).
™ Some fraction of the energy spent in deformation is stored as strain energy, which associated with
tensile, compressive, and shear zones around the newly created dislocations (7.3). Other properties
such as electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance may be modified as a consequence of
plastic deformation.
™ These properties and structures may revert back to the precold-worked states by appropriate heat
treatment (called annealing treatment: heating to desired temp. , holding at that temp for a period
of time (soaking), air or furnace cooling to room temp. This restoration results from two different
processes that occur at elevated temperatures: recovery and recrystallizations which may be
followed by grain growth.

11
7.11 Recovery
™ With no applied external stress, heating and holding at elevated temperature Æincreases atomic
diffusion Æ enhances dislocation motion Æ relieves some of the stored internal strain energy.
™ There is some reduction in the number of dislocations, and dislocations with low internal strain
energy are produced.
™ Also, physical properties such as electrical and thermal conductivities and the like are recovered to
the values existed before cold working.

7.12 Recrystallization
™ Even after recovery is complete, the grains are still in relatively high strain energy state.
Recrystallization is the formation of a new set of strain-free and equiaxed grains (approx. equal
dims. in all dirs.) that have low dislocation densities and are characteristic of the precold-worked
condition.
™ The difference in internal energy between the strain and the unstrained material is the driving force
to produce this new grain structure.
™ The new grains form as very small nuclei and grow until they completely consume the parent
material, processes that involve short-range diffusion (Temp. and Time are important parameters.)
™ The photomicrographs below show several stages of recrystallization and grain growth of brass:
a) Cold-worked grain structure (33%CW) (70X).
b) Initial stage of recrystallization after 3s at 580o C, the very small grains are those that have recrystallized.
c) Partial replacement of cold-worked grains by recrystallized ones after 4s at 580o C.
d) Complete recrystalization after 8s at 580o C. All called-worked crystals are consumed.
e) Grain growth after 15 min. at 580o C. f) Grain growth after 10 min. at 700o C.

0.6 mm 0.6 mm 0.6 mm

a) 33% cold
b) New crystals
worked
nucleate after c)After 4
brass 3 sec. at 580C. seconds

0.6 mm
0.6 mm

e)After 15 min
d)After 8 at 580 C
seconds
12
™ Above figures show that recrystallization depends on time. Next figure shows that recrystallization
also depends on temperature: the influence of annealing temperature on the tensile strength and
ductility of a brass alloy (heat treatment for 1 h). Grain size as a function of annealing temperature
is indicated. Grain structures during recovery, recrystallization, and grain growth stages are shown.

™ Recrystallization behavior is sometimes specified in terms of a recrystallization temperature.

™ Recrystallization temperature: is that at which the recrystallization is complete in one hour;
grains in the cold-worked microstructure begins to transform into new, equiaxed, and dislocation-
free grains. Recrystallization temperature of brass alloy shown above is about 450o C.
™ Typically, it is 1/3 to 1/2 of the absolute melting temperature of a metal or alloy and depends on
many factor including amount of prior cold work and purity of alloy. Increasing %CW, enhances
rate of recrystallization, and lowers recrystallization temperature.
™ There exists some critical value of %CW below which recrystallization cannot be achieved. (2% -
20%). Next figure shows the variation of recrystallization temperature with %CW for iron. Note
for deformation less than the critical deformation (about %CW), recrystallization will not occur.

13
™ Recrystallization precedes more rapidly in pure metals than alloys. For pure metals,
recrystallization temperature is normally (0.3 Tm) where Tm is the absolute melting temperature.
For some commercial alloys it may run as high as (0.7 Tm). See table below for recrystallization
and melting temperatures for a number metals and alloys.

Design Example 7.1

Cylindrical rod of noncold-worked brass having initial diameter = 6.4 mm.
Need to be cold worked by drawing such that the cross-sectional area is reduced.
Require to have cold-worked yield strength of at least 345 MPa and ductility in excess of 20% EL, and
a final diameter of 5.1 mm is necessary. Describe the procedure.
Solution:
From di = 6.4 mm to do = 5.1 mm, the %CW
⎛ A − Ad ⎞ π(6.4 / 2) 2 − π(5.1 / 2) 2
% CW = ⎜⎜ o ⎟⎟ X 100 = X 100 = 36.5% CW
⎝ A0 ⎠ π(6.4 / 2) 2
From Figs. on page 10 σ y = 410 MPa and ductility = 8% EL. So strength is satisfactory but is
too low.
Try another processing with partial diameter reduction, followed by a recrystallization heat treatment
in which the effects of the cold work are nullified.
The required yield strength, ductility, and diameter are achieved through a second drawing step.

From Fig.(a) 20% CW gives σ y = 345 MPa . But part (c) shows that greater than 20% EL are
possible for deformation of 23% CW or less.
Thus during the final drawing operation, deformation must be between 20%CW and 23%CW.
Take the average 21.5%CW, and then calculate the final diameter for the first drawing do', which
becomes the original for the second drawing. So,

π (d o' / 2) 2 − π (5.1 / 2) 2
21.5% CW = X 100
π (d o' / 2) 2

Or d o' = 5.8 mm

14
7.13 Grain Growth
™ After recrystallization is complete, the strain-free grains will
continue to grow if the metal specimen is held at the elevated
temperature. See part (e) of figure above: grain growth after 15 min
at 580o C. This phenomenon is called grain growth. Grain growth
does not have to be preceded by recovery and recrystallization.
™ An energy is associated with grain boundaries. As grains increase in
size, the total boundary area decreases, yielding an attendant
reduction in the total energy which is the driving force for grain
growth. Big grains grow at the expense of the small ones that shrink.
Thus the average grain size increases with time.
™ The growth of grain size with temperature can occur in all
polycrystalline materials. It occurs by migration of atoms at grain
boundaries by diffusion, thus grain growth is faster at higher
temperatures. The directions of boundary movement and atomic
motion are opposite to each other as shown in the figure.
™ For many polycrystalline materials, the grain diameter d varies with
time t according to the empirical relation:

d n − don = K t (7.7)
Where d = grain diameter at time t, do = initial grain diameter at time t = 0.
K = coefficient dependent on material and temperature T.
n = constant equals to greater than 2.
t = elapsed time.
™ The dependence of grain size on time and temperature is demonstrated in the figure shown. A plot
of the logarithm of grain size as a function of the logarithm of time for brass alloy at several
temperatures. The curves are linear at
lower temperature. Grain growth
proceeds more rapidly as temperature
increases; the curves are displaced
upward to larger grain sizes. This is
explained by enhancement of diffusion
rate with rising temperature.

15
Notes:
1) Fabrication of metals: forming operations, casting, powder metallurgy & welding.
2) Thermal processing of metals: Annealing processes, quenching, and tempering.
3) Plastic deformation is usually achieved by forming operations, where some external stress is
used with magnitude exceeding the
yield strength of the material.
Examples of forming techniques are:
a) forging, b) rolling, c) extrusion,
and d) drawing.

4) When deformation is achieved at a

temperature above that at which
recrystallization occurs, the process
is termed hot working, otherwise, it
is termed cold working.

16