Triple Junction Motion – A New Recovery Mechanism in Metals Deformed to Large Strains

Abstract

A phenomenologically new recovery mechanism – triple junction motion is presented. This recovery mechanism is found to be the dominant one at low and medium temperatures in highly strained aluminum, which has a very fine microstructure, composed of lamellae with the thickness of a few hundred nanometers. Triple junction motion leads to removal of thin lamellae and to a consequent increase of the thickness of neighboring lamellae. This recovery mechanism therefore increases the average lamellar boundary spacing and causes a gradual transition from a lamellar structure to a more equiaxed structure preceding recrystallization.