Influence of heterogeneities with different length scale on the plasticity of Fe-base ultrafine eutectic alloys

The evolution of microstructure and its influence on the mechanical properties of high-strength ultrafine eutectic Fe-(Ti, Zr)-(B, Co) alloys has been studied. The addition of B or Co improves the room temperature compressive plasticity from 1% to similar to 8.5% or similar to 14%, respectively, due to the formation of a heterogeneous microstructure with distinctly different length scales, which can delay the propagation of shear bands and promotes the activation of multiple shear bands.