Part VII - Hydrostatic Pressure-Induced Deformation of Polycrystalline Zinc

Samples of poly crystalline zinc of 99.999+ pct purity were observed metallographically after having been exposed to hydrostatic pressures of up to 27 kbars. The deforrnation produced by this treatment was analyzed using X-ray and metallogaphic techniques. Basal-plane slip occurred universally in all grains exumined at the lowest pressure used (8 kbars). At pressures of >23 kbars, {1012} twin nucleation and growth were noted as well as slip. Formation of bend planes, complex kink bands, and recrystallization at the gain boundaries were also observed in this pressure range. These observations are discussed in reference to the expected deformation behavior of zinc under high hydrostatic pressure. It has been shown over the past few years1'3 that anisotropic, poly crystalline metals can be made to deform plastically by the application of a hydrostatic pressure. The effect is greater 1) the larger the anisotropy of linear compressibility and 2) the smaller the stress level needed to produce plastic deformation. Zinc having both very anisotropic linear compressibilities and a very low critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for basal-plane slip has been shown to exhibit large amounts of plastic deformation when subjected to a hydrostatic pressure.2,3 At pressures up to 15 kbars, grain boundary migration and slip on one set of glide planes have been reported.' After exposing samples to 20 kbars pressure, grain boundary migration, single slip, multiple slip, and twinning have been noted.' The identification of the deformation modes operative under these conditions has not been reported. It was the purpose of this research to identify the deformation modes induced in poly crystal line zinc by the action of a hydrostatic stress and to study the strain accommodation at grain boundaries. Hydrostatic pressure could affect the operational modes of deformation by altering the Peierls-Nabarro stress. This may be roughly approximated by the relationship4