The transition of strain rate sensitivity induced by Fe solutes in electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni–Fe alloy

A face-centered cubic nanocrystalline (NC) Ni–Fe alloy was fabricated by adjusting electrodeposition parameter. By evaluating the hardness of NC Ni–Fe via nanoindentation at the selected strain rates from 0.005 s⁻¹ to 0.2 s⁻¹, a transitional point of strain rate sensitivity index (m) was exhibited, contrary to the constant value that reported in other works. Based on X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis, which evidenced the apparent lattice expansion as much more Fe solutes dissolved in intragrain rather than grain boundary (GB), we attributed the unexpected enhancement of m value at lower strain rates to pronounced GB-mediated plasticity facilitated by residual dislocations near GBs, whilst the lower m value at higher strain rates mainly to the intragranular dislocation motions. This work contributes directly to understanding the profound effect of alloying on the mechanical behaviors of NC materials.