Abstract
The term pseudo-intercrystalline brittleness is proposed to describe a fracture mechanism which can occur in poly-crystalline alloys which contain a fine dispersion of a second phase. If narrow particle-free zones develop along grain boundaries, separation can occur after large amounts of plastic strain, which is highly localized to the vicinity of grain boundaries. Since the hardened grain interior does not contribute to plastic deformation the total plastic deformation to fracture and fracture toughness remain small. Quantitative models are proposed to interpret the micromechanism of fracture and to describe the grain-size dependence of fracture toughness. The fracture of precipitation hardening aluminum alloys, creep resistant and structural steels are discussed in terms of the models. Finally an interpretation of the mechanism of stress-relief cracking in steel weldments is given.
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Hornbogen, E., Kreye, H. The mechanism of pseudo-intercrystalline brittleness of precipitation-hardened alloys and tempered steels. J Mater Sci 17, 979–988 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543516
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00543516