Nanocrystalline material with anomalous modulus of resilience and springback effect

Stability of nanocrystalline microstructural features allows structural materials to be synthesized and tested in ways that have heretofore been pursued only on a limited basis. Here, we demonstrate using quasi-static compression and three point bend tests that, in a stabilized nanocrystalline metal with tailored solute concentrations, i.e., NC-Cu-3 at.%Ta, extraordinary properties such as ultrahigh hardness along with anomalus modulus of resilience and springback effects can be manifested. Such effects influence a wide range of materials response including elastic energy absorption, damping, fatigue and wear. The present study, therefore, represents a pathway for designing highly resilient materials for everyday applications. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.