Title: Local mechanical properties and nanoscale deformation of aluminium and magnesium lightweight alloys

Authors: C.A. Charitidis

Addresses: School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon, Polytechniou St., Zografos, Athens, GR-157 80, Greece

Abstract: Lightweight alloys are of major concern, due to their functionality and applications in transport and industry applications. The nanomechanical properties (namely hardness and elastic modulus) and nanoscale deformation of aluminium and magnesium lightweight alloys are investigated (elastic and plastic deformation at certain applied loads). Studying high-resolution load-displacement data, discrete events including the onset of dislocation plasticity and possible phase transformations can be monitored during the nanoindentation test. A yield-type pop-in occurs upon low loading and represents the start of phase transformation, which is monitored through a gradual slope change of the load-displacement curve. The loading data have been fitted to the power-law function, to determine this depth offset. It has been shown that nanoindentation tests provide a convenient measurement of the local mechanical properties and appear to be a useful tool for the study of fundamental materials physics and elementary mechanisms involved in local plasticity.

Keywords: nanomechanical properties; yield; pop-in; magnesium alloys; aluminium alloys; nanoindentation; stress; strain; AA6082; AZ31; lightweight alloys; nanotechnology; hardness; elastic modulus; nanoscale deformation; local plasticity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2011.039988

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2011 Vol.5 No.1, pp.20 - 37

Published online: 14 Oct 2014 *

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