Electron Microscopic Investigation of the Dislocation Structure in Molybdenum Single Crystals Deformed in Tension at 293 and 493 °K

The dislocation structure of high purity molybdenum single crystals after weak tensile deformation at 293 and 493 °K is studied by transmission electron microscopy. The transition from parabolic stress—strain behaviour to three‐stage hardening which occurs between the considered temperatures is associated with a basic change in the deformation substructure. Crystals deformed at 293 °K contain a uniform distribution of long primary and secondary screw dislocations. On the contrary, the dislocation structure in stage I at 493 °K consists mainly of isolated clusters of primary edge dipoles. It is concluded that the effect of temperature on the mobility of screw dislocations is responsible for the change observed both in work‐hardening characteristics and related dislocation structures.