Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of an AgInCd alloy during compressive deformation process

The microstructure and mechanical properties of an AgInCd alloy during compressive deformation process have been investigated in present study. Results show that with increase of deformation strain, the deformation markings are formed in the deformed AgInCd alloys, the smooth and rectilinear annealing twin boundaries become bent and blurry. Lots of dislocations and dislocation tangles are accumulated in the deformed AgInCd alloys. Many long-length stacking faults are formed in the alloy with deformation strain 30%. With further increase of deformation strain, nanoscale deformation twins are widely formed in the AgInCd alloys. The microhardness of the AgInCd alloy increases and the standard deviation of microhardness inversely decreases due to the more uniform micro-deformation with deformation strain increasing. The uniform elongation firstly decreases and then increases as a result of the formation of nano-twins in the AgInCd alloy with deformation strain 50%.