Divergent evolution of slip banding in CrCoNi alloys

BJ Xie and HM Chen and PF Wang and C Zhang and B Xing and MJ Xu and X Wang and L Valdevit and J Rimoli and XQ Pan and PH Cao, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 16, 3631 (2025).

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58480-4

Metallic materials under high stress often exhibit deformation localization, manifesting as slip banding. Over seven decades ago, Frank and Read introduced the well-known model of dislocation multiplication at a source, explaining slip band formation. Here, we reveal two distinct types of slip bands (confined and extended) in compressed CrCoNi alloys through multi-scale testing and modeling from microscopic to atomic scales. The confined slip band, characterized by a thin glide zone, arises from the conventional process of repetitive full dislocation emissions at Frank-Read source. Contrary to the classical model, the extended band stems from slip-induced deactivation of dislocation sources, followed by consequent generation of new sources on adjacent planes, leading to rapid band thickening. Our findings provide insights into atomic-scale collective dislocation motion and microscopic deformation instability in advanced structural materials.

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