Plate-like precipitate effects on plasticity of Al-Cu micro-pillar: {100}-interfacial slip

In this paper, we study the effects of θ′-Al₂Cu plate-like precipitates on the plasticity of Al-Cu micro-pillars, with a sample size allowing the precipitates to cross the entire micro-pillar. {100}-slip traces are identified for the first time in Al and Al alloys at room temperature. We investigate the underlying mechanisms of this unusual {100}-slip, and show that it operates along the coherent θ′-Al₂Cu precipitate/α-Al matrix interface. A combination of molecular dynamics simulations and stress analysis indicates that screw dislocations can cross-slip from the {111} plane onto the {100} θ′-Al₂Cu/α-Al interface, then move on it through a kink-pair mechanism, providing a reasonable explanation to the observed {100}-slips. The roles of the θ′-Al₂Cu precipitate/α-Al matrix interface on the properties of interfacial dislocations are studied within the Peierls–Nabarro framework, showing that the interface can stabilize the {100} screw dislocations from the spreading of the core, and increases the Peierls stress. These results improve our understanding of the mechanical behavior of Al-Cu micro-pillars at room temperature, and imply an enhanced role of interfacial slip in Al-Cu based alloys at elevated temperature in consideration of the underlying kink-pair mechanism.