Dissolving Equilibrium-Immiscible Elements via Severe Plastic Deformation

Abstract

Severe plastic deformation has the fascinating power of alloying equilibrium-immiscible elements, overriding the thermodynamic driving force (positive heat of mixing) that would dictate phase separation in equilibrium. This article briefly reviews the current understanding of this subject, in terms of experimental evidence for atomic-level alloying and phase selection, and in particular the models proposed to explain the driven intermixing. Outstanding issues that await future research are also discussed.