Micro-mechanical properties of homogeneous- and inhomogeneous-structured pillars in Al-TiC nanocomposite: An in-situ study

Size effect and uniform slip bands are observed in the single-crystalline Al. Irregular slip bands are observed in the Al-30 vol.%TiC composite micropillars. 'Jerky to smooth' transition is observed in the stress-strain curves of the inhomogeneous Al-x%[Al + TiC] pillars. The strain burst sizes decrease with the grain refinement and increasing [Al + TiC] fraction.