Abstract: The strengthening of metals by a variety of means has been of interest over much of history. However, the elucidation of the actual mechanisms involved in the processes of alloying and work hardening, and related processes of metals as a scientific pursuit, has become possible only through the parallel developments in dislocation theory and in definitive experimental tools such as electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The important developments over the past several decades in the mechanistic understanding of the often complex processes of interaction of dislocations with each other, with solute atoms, and with precipitates during plastic flow have largely remained scattered in the professional literature. The central processes of strengthening that are presented in this book are modeled by dislocation mechanics in detail, and the results are compared extensively with the best available experimental information. The book presents 509 references to principal authors on the subject over the past sixty-five years. The form of the coverage is intended to inspire readers to develop their own models of similar or related phenomena and, finally, engage in more advanced computational simulations, guided by the book.

Keywords: metals, alloying, work hardening, dislocation theory, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, solute atoms, precipitates, plastic flow