Dynamic creation and evolution of gradient nanostructure in single-crystal metallic microcubes. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We demonstrate the dynamic creation and subsequent static evolution of extreme gradient nanograined structures in initially near-defect-free single-crystal silver microcubes. Extreme nanostructural transformations are imposed by high strain rates, strain gradients, and recrystallization in high-velocity impacts of the microcubes against an impenetrable substrate. We synthesized the silver microcubes in a bottom-up seed-growth process and use an advanced laser-induced projectile impact testing apparatus to selectively launch them at supersonic velocities (~400 meters per second). Our study provides new insights into the fundamental deformation mechanisms and the effects of crystal and sample-shape symmetries resulting from high-velocity impacts. The nanostructural transformations produced in our experiments show promising pathways to developing gradient nanograined metals for engineering applications requiring both high strength and high toughness-for example, in structural components of aircraft and spacecraft.

published proceedings

  • Science

altmetric score

  • 117.098

author list (cited authors)

  • Thevamaran, R., Lawal, O., Yazdi, S., Jeon, S., Lee, J., & Thomas, E. L.

citation count

  • 74

complete list of authors

  • Thevamaran, Ramathasan||Lawal, Olawale||Yazdi, Sadegh||Jeon, Seog-Jin||Lee, Jae-Hwang||Thomas, Edwin L

publication date

  • October 2016