Magnetic after-effect study of dislocation relaxation in Fe-based alloys

Dislocation-related relaxation processes are studied by measuring the magnetic after-effect spectra as a function of temperature in a variety of non-deformed and cold-worked iron alloys. In the α-Fe and Fe-1%Cu alloys the peak centred at about 320 K appears as a consequence of plastic deformation. On the basis of the behaviour of its parameters, such as the temperature position of the peak, the full width at half maximum and the integrated intensities, this feature is assigned to the relaxation process of thermally activated dislocation motion.