In situ observation of distance dependence of the plasticity behavior of the crack tip in nanosized AuAg alloys

Understanding the deformation behavior of crack tips in metals is of great significance for improving fracture toughness. However, how crack tips in nanosized metallic alloys behave under loading is unclear, because most previous studies focused on pure metals. In this study, the atomic-scale deformation behavior of the crack tip in AuAg alloy nanocrystals was observed in situ. We revealed that the deformation mechanism near the crack tip depended on the distance from the tip. For the 'near region' close to the crack tip, plastic deformation was governed by partial dislocations, twinning, and their interactions. For the 'far region', further than -15 nm from the crack tip, full dislocations dominated, and their interactions resulted in Lomer-dislocation (LD) lock formation and destruction. We uncovered that the combination of blunting dislocation-twin interactions, twin-twin intersections, and formation and destruction of LD locks, as a previously unrecognized fracture toughness improvement mechanism in metals.