Tj. Davies et Aa. Ogwu, A POSSIBLE ROUTE TO IMPROVING THE DUCTILITY OF BRITTLE INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS, Journal of alloys and compounds, 228(1), 1995, pp. 105-111
Efforts to achieve ductility in a certain class of intermetallic compo
unds are described in terms of the experimental work performed and the
empirical and quantitative quantum mechanical models used to achieve
crystal structures likely to satisfy the Von Mises condition for plast
icity. However, the current trend in the behaviour of these intermetal
lic compounds indicates that an underpinning electronic state requirem
ent must be satisfied together with the Von Mises criterion for improv
ed ductility to become achievable. It is suggested that a detailed und
erstanding of this electronic factor may provide a way to improve the
ductility via processes involving an alteration of the equilibrium ele
ctron distribution in some intermetallic compounds, possibly through t
he electroplastic effect.