In Situ TEM Study of Interaction between Dislocations and a Single Nanotwin under Nanoindentation

Nanotwinned (nt) materials exhibit excellent mechanical properties, and have been attracting much more attention of late. Nevertheless, the fundamental mechanism of interaction between dislocations and a single nanotwin is not understood. In this study, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) nanoindentation is performed, on a specimen of a nickel (Ni) alloy containing a single nanotwin of 89 nm in thickness. The specimen is prepared using focused ion beam (FIB) technique from an nt surface, which is formed by a novel approach under indentation using a developed diamond panel with tips array. The stiffness of the specimen is ten times that of the pristine counterparts during loading. The ultrahigh stiffness is attributed to the generation of nanotwins and the impediment of the single twin to the dislocations. Two peak loads are induced by the activation of a new slip system and the penetration of dislocations over the single nanotwin, respectively. One slip band is parallel to the single nanotwin, indicating the slip of dislocations along the nanotwin. In situ TEM observation of nanoindentation reveals a new insight for the interaction between dislocations and a single nanotwin. This paves the way for design and preparation of high-performance nt surfaces of Ni alloys used for aircraft engines, gas turbines, turbocharger components, ducts, and absorbers.