Abstract
Significance: Many processing techniques, such as solid-state phase transformation, epitaxial growth, or solidification, can make nanocomposite materials with preferred crystallographic orientation relationships at internal interfaces. On the other hand, metal-working techniques can make composites in bulk quantities for structural applications but typically the resulting bimetal interfaces lack crystallographic order and are unstable with respect to heating. Using a metal-working roll-bonding technique, we find that at extreme plastic strains, the bimetal interfaces develop a remarkably ordered, preferred atomic structure. Using atomic-scale and crystal-plasticity simulations, we study the dynamical stability conditions responsible for this counterintuitive phenomenon. We show that the emergent interface corresponds to a unique stable state, which leads to exceptional mechanical, thermal, and irradiation stability of the nanocomposite.

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