A possible route to improving the ductility of brittle intermetallic compounds

Efforts to achieve ductility in a certain class of intermetallic compounds are described in terms of the experimental work performed and the empirical and quantitative quantum mechanical models used to achieve crystal structures likely to satisfy the Von Mises condition for plasticity. However, the current trend in the behaviour of these intermetallic compounds indicates that an underpinning electronic state requirement must be satisfied together with the Von Mises criterion for improved ductility to become achievable. It is suggested that a detailed understanding of this electronic factor may provide a way to improve the ductility via processes involving an alteration of the equilibrium electron distribution in some intermetallic compounds, possibly through the electroplastic effect.