Dislocation substructures in shock-loaded Ni3Al

The deformation substructure and mechanical response of the L1₂ intermetallic, Ni₃Al, subjected to shock-wave loading was studied. Following shock prestrains to shock pressures of approximately 14.0 GPa, 23.5 GPa, and 47.2 GPa, the reload yield strength of Ni₃Al was measured to be 750 MPa, 1250 MPa and 1500 MPa, respectively. The effective hardening in the shock-loaded Ni₃Al exceeds that quasistatically obtained when deformed to roughly the same equivalent strains. Coarse planar slip on {111} type planes, a highly density of stacking faults, and deformation twins with a {111} type twinning plane were observed in the shocked material. An increasing propensity for twinning and stacking fault formation was observed with higher shock peak pressures.