The stacking fault energy dependence of the mechanisms of deformation in Fcc metals

Abstract

The influence of stacking fault energy on the choice of deformation mechanisms is considered. Experimental evidence is reviewed to distinguish between the possible mechanisms and a limited analysis of crystal rotations is performed. It is shown that twinning, pencil glide, and the more usual octahedral slip are all mechanisms which could be operative under different conditions of stacking fault energy or temperature but that even if only octahedral slip occurs stacking fault energy may affect slip rotations by influencing the choice of operative slip systems. Using the simplifying assumption that deformation is homogeneous, and applying Bishop and Hill’s maximum work principle to derive possible combinations of slip systems, a set of criteria are developed to indicate the influence of stacking fault energy on the choice from among the available slip systems, and hence on slip rotations. An empirical method of relating stacking fault energy to texture is outlined and the experimental results obtained by this method are compared with results obtained by other methods. are compared with results obtained by other methods.