The partial-dislocation mediated processes have so far eluded high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies in nanocrystalline Ni with non-equilibrium grain boundaries. It was revealed that the nanocrystalline Ni deformed largely by twinning instead of extended partials. The underlying mechanisms including dissociated dislocations, high residual stresses, and stress concentrations near stacking faults were demonstrated.

Partial-Dislocation-Mediated Processes in Nanocrystalline Ni with Non-Equilibrium Grain Boundaries. X.L.Wu, Y.T.Zhu: Applied Physics Letters, 2006, 89[3], 031922 (3pp)