Plaston—Elemental Deformation Process Involving Cooperative Atom Motion

Abstract

The concept of ‘plaston’ that involves cooperative atom motion under shear stress is discussed as a deformation carrier that nucleates and moves in the deformation front under shear stress in many different materials in general. The selection of a plaston of a particular type among many different plastons depends on stress level/state, crystallographic orientation, specimen size (grain size) and so on. The importance of the understanding of the activation of various plastons is discussed for the improvement of mechanical properties of existing structural materials and the development of new structural materials with high strength and high ductility.