  A promising approach to deform metallic-intermetallic composite materials is
the application of electric current pulses during the deformation process to
achieve a lower yield strength and enhanced elongation to fracture. This is
known as the electroplastic effect. We developed a novel setup to study the
electroplastic effect during nanoindentation on individual phases and
well-defined interfaces. Using a eutectic Al- Al2Cu alloy as a model material,
we compare the electroplastic nanoindentation results to macroscopic
electroplastic compression tests. The results of the micro- and macroscopic
investigations reveal current induced displacement shifts and stress drops,
respectively, with the first displacement shift / stress drop being higher than
the subsequent ones. A higher current intensity, higher loading rate and larger
pulsing interval all cause increased displacement shifts. This observation, in
conjunction with the fact that the first displacement shift is highest,
strongly indicates that de-pinning of dislocations from obstacles dominates the
mechanical response, rather than solely thermal effects.
