Defect Structure and the Temperature Dependence of Hardness of an Intermetallic Compound

The temperature dependence of hardness of the intermetal l ic ompound AgMg was studied from--19O ~ to the solidus temperature over the entire homogeneity range. The effect of structure on hardness at high homologous temperatures differs radical ly from that at low temperatures. These results, over v ir tual ly the ful l homologous temperature range, appear to rationalize previously contradictory studies of the effect of defect structure on the room temperature strength of intermetal l ic ompounds. Numerous studies have conf i rmed the impor tance of defect s t ructure in determin ing mechanica l p rop-ert ies of in termeta l l i c and interst i t ia l compounds. Exper imenta l results are contradictory, however, some plots of s t rength vs. composi t ion showing min-ima, others max ima. Korn i lov (1) has suggested that t ime and temperature might also affect mechanica