Abstract
The application of an electric current in situ with plastic deformation has been shown to produce non-thermal effects, which often present as a reduction in flow stress. This phenomenon is known as electroplasticity. Despite over 60 years of research, the mechanism(s) responsible for this behavior remains unknown.
The magnetic vector potential is explored herein as a possible mechanism that may contribute towards electroplasticity. This effect is explored experimentally by isolating the potentials experienced during a common electrically-assisted tension/compression test through use of a solenoid. It was discovered that the vector potential does not affect the flow stress or elongation in several materials that were tested. This conclusions eliminates one possible mechanism of the electroplastic effect.