Supersaturation in Ag–Ni alloy by two-step high-pressure torsion processing

Abstract

Bulk Ag–Ni composites with an ultrafine grained structure were obtained by the use of a new two-step high-pressure torsion consolidation and deformation process after the first processing step. The evolving microstructure in the fully dense composites of 6 and 19 at.% of Ag was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction after applying the first and second deformation step. A deformation-induced formation of single-phase supersaturated solid solution of Ag in nanocrystalline Ni was observed after the second deformation step at the highest degree of deformation independent of the initial composition.