Abstract
Bulk sized continuous and monolithic pure Nickel gradient material is successfully developed using electroplating method. Great emphasis is given on controlling the direction of the gradient for the samples. The gradient belt for each Nickel gradient material consisted of grain size from maximum 4 µm to minimum 20nm, with the belt transcending from coarse towards ultrafine to finally nano-grain structure. Crack is propagated from Coarse to Nano-grain gradient Nickel and vice versa in order to procure the J-integral (Jic) for each sample according to ASTM standard E-1820 and deduce the fracture properties under each condition. Under such conditions when crack propagated from coarse to nano direction, Jmax is found to be 215kJ/m2 while crack propagating from Nano to Coarse direction, Jmax is found to be 62kJ/m2. Such dual polarized Jic within a single material is unique, especially for nickel whose Jicin literature for coarse grain (95 µm) was around 225kJ/m2 and ultrafine grain (300nm) was 100 kJ/m2, meaning the nickel gradient material consisting the grain gradient belt between 4 µm-20nm exhibits similar fracture toughness as pure coarse grain almost 20 times larger. Such gradient material exhibiting directionally dependent fracture toughness behavior can most certainly be much stronger under tensile conditions while keeping high fracture toughness.