The Relationship between the Work‐Hardening of B.C.C. and F.C.C. Metals

Abstract

Abstract The paper develops and supports in some detail the hypothesis that the well‐known “three‐stages work‐hardening” curve of b.c.c. metals is closely analogous, beyond its inflexion point, to stage‐III work‐hardening of f.c.c. metal single crystals. The basic reason for this correspondence is that in both cases screw dislocations may cross‐slip easily. A qualitative picture for stage‐III hardening in f.c.c. metals and for the work‐hardening of b.c.c. metals based on the internal stresses originating from dislocation sheets parallel to the primary glide plane (or the glide plane of maximum shear stress) is proposed.