Nanoscale hierarchical structure of twins in nanograins embedded with twins and the strengthening effect

Abstract

Hierarchical structures of 20nmgrains embedded with twins are realized in electrodeposited Au-Cu alloys. The electrodeposition method allows refinement of the average grain size to 20 nm order, and the alloying stabilizes the nanoscale grain structure. Au-Cu alloys are face-centered cubic (FCC) metals with low stacking fault energy that favors formation of growth twins. Due to the hierarchical structure, the Hall-Petch relationship is still observed when the crystalline size (average twin space) is refined to sub 10 nm region. The yield strength reaches 1.50 GPa in an electrodeposited Au-Cu alloy composed of 16.6 ± 1.1 nm grains and the average twin spacing at 4.7 nm.