Dislocation structure evolution under electroplastic effect

In this study, the effect of high current density electropulsing (10(3) A/mm(2) for 150 mu s) on the residual stress of quenched steel was investigated with the objective of determining the electroplastic effect on plastic strain and dislocation evolution. The residual stress and dislocation density, which were closely related to the plastic strain, were significantly reduced through electropulsing. The direct effect of drift electrons on the dislocation motion, instead of side effects such as skin, pinch, instantaneous thermal expansion stress, and Joule heating, primarily contributes to the plastic strain. Employing the thermally activated plastic flow concept, the drift electrons were also found to have an effect on the thermally activated dislocation motion in addition to the force exerted on the dislocations by an electron wind. Under the action of drift electrons, the movement of vacancies and dislocations were enhanced, which accelerated the dislocation annihilation. In contrast, affected by the electron wind force, Frank-Read source failed to produce a large amount of dislocations, thereby simultaneously decreasing the dislocation multiplication rate. Finally, the dislocation density decreased and the dislocation structure was rearranged parallel to the direction of motion of the drift electrons.