Abstract
Indentation tests using a steel ball were carried out on the (001), (011) and (111) faces of αCu-Al single crystals in order to elucidate the mechanism of plastic deformation produced in the surface layer. The indentation configuration produced by the indentor and the slip trace distribution were studied in detail.
In addition, the dislocation density around the indentation on the (111) and (211) faces was revealed by removing successively the thin surface layers and developing etch pits on the exposed surfaces.
The results obtained are summarized as follows:
(1) The slip tends to occur in the ‹110› direction on the (001) and (011) crystal faces.
(2) In the case of indentation on the (111) face, the slip occurs on two sets of planes arranged in truncated triangular pyramids, one diverging and the other converging into the material.
(3) The distributions of the dislocation density and the range of plastic deformation on the (111) and (211) faces were clarified.
