This work examines the interaction of screw dislocations with Guinier–Preston (GP) zones using atomistic simulations. Both
Orowan looping and cross-slip mechanisms are found to control the interactions. Cross-slip, occurring both at zero and finite temperatures,
is found to either significantly reduce or enhance precipitate strengthening, depending upon the orientation of the dislocation–
GP zone interaction. The orientation dependence, and its dependence on temperature, provides a micromechanical
explanation for the experiments of Muraishi et al. (Philos. Mag. A 82 (2002) 2755).
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