Solid Solution Strengthening and Softening Due to Collective   Nanocrystalline Deformation Physics
  Solid solution effects on the strength of the finest nanocrystalline grain sizes are studied with molecular dynamics simulations of different Cu-based alloys. We find evidence of both solid solution strengthening and softening, with trends in strength controlled by how alloying affects the elastic modulus of the material. This behavior is consistent with a shift to collective grain boundary deformation physics, and provides a link between the mechanical behavior of very fine-grained nanocrystalline metals and metallic glasses. 
Timothy J. Rupert
cond-mat.mtrl-sci cond-mat.mes-hall