Formation of a multigrain structure and its influence on the strength and plasticity of the Ni$_3$Al intermetallic compound

The structure of the Ni$_3$Al intermetallic compound synthesized in a powder mixture of initial elements under pressure with plastic deformation of the sample has been studied. It has been shown that, in the intermetallic compound, the plastic deformation forms a bimodal grain structure consisting of micrometersize grains, multigrains composed of submicrometer-size grains, and intergrain layers containing nanometersize Al$_2$O$_3$, Ni$_2$Al$_3$, and NiAl crystallites. As the degree of deformation increases, the number of multigrains in the grain structure of the intermetallic compound increases, as well as the strength and plasticity of this compound.