The effect of twinning on the work-hardening behavior and microstructural evolution of hafnium

The work-hardening behavior of hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) metals, such as hafnium, is influenced by temperature, strain rate, chemistry, and texture. In the case of hafnium, while slip on the prism and pyramidal planes is dominant during deformation, the propensity of deformation twinning is known to increase with decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate. In this study, hafnium was prestrained quasi-statically in compression at liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K), creating a heavily twinned microstructure. The specimens were then reloaded in compression at room temperature (298 K). Yield stress, flow stress, and work-hardening behaviors of the prestrained specimens were higher than room-temperature compression test data typical of the as-annealed material. The microstructure of each specimen was characterized optically and using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Texture was measured by neutron diffraction and the texture evolution due to twinning, and the interaction of slip with the twins was seen to lead to higher work-hardening rates and flow stresses in the cold prestrained specimens.