title: Plastic deformation with reversible peak broadening in nanocrystalline nickel.
abstract: Plastic deformation in coarse-grained metals is governed by dislocation-mediated processes. These processes lead to the accumulation of a residual dislocation network, producing inhomogeneous strain and an irreversible broadening of the Bragg peaks in x-ray diffraction. We show that during plastic deformation of electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel, the peak broadening is reversible upon unloading; hence, the deformation process does not build up a residual dislocation network. The results were obtained during in situ peak profile analysis using the Swiss Light Source. This in situ technique, based on well-known peak profile analysis methods, can be used to address the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties in nanostructured materials.
authors.affiliation: Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Budrovic
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Swygenhoven
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Derlet
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Petegem
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmitt