Structural and elastic properties of Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>AlX and Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>AlX (X = C and N) under pressure effect

Using first-principles density functional calculations, the effect of high pressures, up to 20 GPa, on the structural and elastic properties of Zr₂AlX and Ti₂AlX, with X = C and N, were studied by means of the pseudo-potential plane-waves method. Calculations were performed within the local density approximation to the exchange-correlation approximation energy. The lattice constants and the internal parameters are in agreement with the available results. The elastic constants and their pressure dependence are calculated using the static finite strain technique. We derived the bulk and shear moduli, Young's moduli and Poisson's ratio for ideal polycrystalline Zr₂AlX and Ti₂AlX aggregates. We estimated the Debye temperature of Zr₂AlX and Ti₂AlX from the average sound velocity. This is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the elastic properties of Zr₂AlC, Zr₂AlN and Ti₂AlN compounds, and it still awaits experimental confirmation.     

Lattice dynamical properties of ScB2, TiB2, and V B2 compounds

We have investigated the structural and lattice dynamical properties of XB₂(X=Sc,V,Ti) by using first-principles total energy calculations. Specifically, the lattice parameters (a, c) of the stable phase, the bond lengths of X–B and B–B atoms, phonon dispersion curves and the corresponding density of states, and some thermodynamical quantities such as internal energy, entropy, heat capacity, and their temperature-dependent behaviours, are presented. The obtained results for structural parameters are in good agreement with the available experimental and other theoretical studies.     

Elastic moduli of nanocrystalline binary Al alloys with Fe,Co, Ti,Mg and Pb alloying elements

The paper studies the elastic moduli of nanocrystalline (NC) Al and NC binary Al–X alloys (X is Fe, Co, Ti, Mg or Pb) by using molecular dynamics simulations. X atoms in the alloys are either segregated to grain boundaries (GBs) or distributed randomly as in disordered solid solution. At 0 K, the rigidity of the alloys increases with decrease in atomic radii of the alloying elements. An addition of Fe, Co or Ti to the NC Al leads to increase in the Young’s E and shear μ moduli, while an alloying with Pb decreases them. The elastic moduli of the alloys depend on a distribution of the alloying elements. The alloys with the random distribution of Fe or Ti demonstrate larger E and μ than those for the corresponding alloys with GB segregations, while the rigidity of the Al–Co alloy is higher for the case of the GB segregations. The moduli E and μ for polycrystalline aggregates of Al and Al–X alloys with randomly distributed X atoms are estimated based on the elastic constants of corresponding single-crystals according to the Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximation, which neglects the contribution of GBs to the rigidity. The results show that GBs in NC materials noticeably reduce their rigidity. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of μ for the NC Al–X alloys is analyzed. Only the Al–Co alloy with GB segregations shows the decrease in μ to the lowest extent in the temperature range of 0–600 K in comparison with the NC pure Al.     

退火诱导机械合金化Fe42.5Al42.5Ti5B10合金的结构演变与晶粒生长动力学

利用XRD和TEM方法研究Fe_42.5Al_42.5Ti₅B₁₀合金在机械合金化及等温热处理过程中的结构演变及晶粒生长动力学,讨论了机械合金化合成机理和热处理过程中的晶粒生长机理.结果表明,球磨过程中Al,Ti,B原子向Fe晶格中扩散,形成Fe(Al,Ti,B)固溶体.机械合金化合成Fe(Al,Ti,B)遵循连续扩散混合机理.球磨50h后,金属Fe,Al,Ti,B已完全合金化,球磨终产物为纳米晶Fe(Al,Ti,B).球 关键词： XRD TEM 42.5Al_42.5Ti₅B₁₀合金')" href="#">Fe_42.5Al_42.5Ti₅B₁₀合金 机械合金化     

Systematic analysis of the structural,elastic, and electronic properties of Ti–Cu–Me (Me=Al,Ga and In) ternary intermetallics

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of eight intermetallics in Ti–Cu–Me (Me=Al, Ga and In) systems were investigated with the first-principles method. The calculations were performed within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) with the density functional theory (DFT) using the supercell (SC) method. Calculation results show that the SC approximation is accurate at zero pressure. These intermetallics are classified as stable and metastable in our investigation. The stable phases are those presented in the equilibrium phase diagram at room temperature. The metastable phases are those that usually appear in the equilibrium phase diagram at higher temperatures. The values of calculations show that the TiCuAl, Ti₂CuAl₅, and TiCu₂In compounds are brittle, and the Ti_0.5CuAl_0.5, TiCu₂Al, TiCuGa, Ti₂CuGa₅, and Ti_0.5CuIn_0.5 compounds are ductile at zero pressure.     

High-temperature site preference and atomic short-range ordering characteristics of ternary alloying elements in γ’-Ni3Al intermetallics

Abstract

Remarkable high-temperature mechanical properties of nickel-based superalloys are correlated with the arrangement of ternary alloying elements in L1₂-type-ordered γ′-Ni₃Al intermetallics. In the current study, therefore, high-temperature site occupancy preference and energetic-structural characteristics of atomic short-range ordering (SRO) of ternary alloying X elements (X = Mo, W, Ta, Hf, Re, Ru, Pt or Co) in Ni₇₅Al_21.875X_3.125 alloy systems have been studied by combining the statistico-thermodynamical theory of ordering and electronic theory of alloys in the pseudopotential approximation. Temperature dependence of site occupancy tendencies of alloying X element atoms has been predicted by calculating partial ordering energies and SRO parameters of Ni-Al, Ni-X and Al-X atomic pairs. It is shown that, all ternary alloying element atoms (except Pt) tend to occupy Al, whereas Pt atoms prefer to substitute for Ni sub-lattice sites of Ni₃Al intermetallics. However, in contrast to other X elements, sub-lattice site occupancy characteristics of Re atoms appear to be both temperature- and composition-dependent. Theoretical calculations reveal that site occupancy preference of Re atoms switches from Al to both Ni and Al sites at critical temperatures, T_c, for Re > 2.35 at%. Distribution of Re atoms at both Ni and Al sub-lattice sites above T_c may lead to localised supersaturation of the parent Ni₃Al phase and makes possible the formation of topologically close-packed (TCP) phases. The results of the current theoretical and simulation study are consistent with other theoretical and experimental investigations published in the literature.     

The competitive growth of cubic domains in Ti1–xAlxN films studied by diffraction anomalous near‐edge structure spectroscopy

Titanium and aluminium nitride films deposited by magnetron sputtering generally grow as columnar domains made of oriented nanocrystallites with cubic or hexagonal symmetry depending on Al content, which are embedded in more disordered grain boundaries. The substitution of Al atoms for Ti in the cubic lattice of the films improves their resistance to wear and oxidation, allowing their use as protective coatings. Ti K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, which probes both crystallized and more disordered grain boundaries, and X‐ray diffraction anomalous fine structure, which is sensitive to short‐ and long‐range order within a given crystallized domain, are carried out on a set of Ti_1–xAl_xN films deposited by magnetron sputtering on Si substrates. Attention is paid to the shape of the pre‐edge region, which is sensitive to the symmetry of the site occupied by Ti atoms, either octahedral in face‐centred‐cubic Ti‐rich (TiN, Ti_0.54Al_0.46N) samples or tetrahedral in hexagonal‐close‐packed Al‐rich (Ti_0.32Al_0.68N) films. In order to obain information on the titanium environment in the well crystallized areas, subtraction of the smooth part of the energy‐dependent structure factor for the Bragg reflections is applied to the pre‐edge region of the diffraction anomalous data in order to restore their spectroscopic appearance. A flat pre‐edge is related to the typical octahedral environment of Ti atoms for cubic reflections. The difference observed between pre‐edge spectra associated with face‐centred‐cubic 200 and 111 Bragg reflections of Ti_0.54Al_0.46N is assigned to Ti enrichment of 111 large well ordered domains compared with the more disordered 200 ones. The sharp peak observed in the spectrum recorded from the hexagonal 002 peak of Ti_0.32Al_0.68N can be regarded as a standard for the pure tetrahedral Ti environment in hexagonal‐close‐packed nitride.     

Deformation-induced dissolution of the intermetallics Ni3Ti and Ni3Al in austenitic steels at cryogenic temperatures

An anomalous deformation-induced dissolution of the intermetallics Ni₃Al and Ni₃Ti in the matrix of austenitic Fe–Ni–Al(Ti) alloys has been revealed in experiment at cryogenic temperatures (down to 77 K) under rolling and high pressure torsion. The observed phenomenon is explained as the result of migration of deformation-stipulated interstitial atoms from a particle into the matrix in the stress field of moving dislocations. With increasing the temperature of deformation, the dissolution is replaced by the deformation-induced precipitation of the intermetallics, which is accelerated due to a sufficient amount of point defects in the matrix, gained as well in the course of deformation at lower temperatures.     

One step ultrafast mechanosynthesis of nanocrystalline cubic Ti0.9Al0.1B and its microstructure evolution

Nanocrystalline single phase cubic Ti_0.9Al_0.1B has been prepared at room temperature in a minimum duration of 4 h by mechanical alloying the stoichiometric mixture of Ti, Al and B powders in a high energy planetary ball mill under argon atmosphere. The Rietveld's structure refinement of X-ray diffraction data reveals that cubic Ti–Al–B phase is initiated just after 1 h of milling and at the same time α-Ti (hcp) phase partially transforms to metastable β-Ti (bcc) phase. In the course of milling, ordered Ti–Al–B lattice gradually transforms to a distorted state and the degree of distortion increases with milling time up to 15 h. The formation of cubic Ti_0.9Al_0.1B is also confirmed from the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern. Microstructure characterization by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) reveals that Ti–Al–B nanoparticles are isotropic in nature with average particle size ~4.5 nm and is in good agreement with the value obtained from the Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction data.     

Metal contacts to n-GaN

Al, Au, Ti/Al and Ti/Au contacts were prepared on n-GaN and annealed up to 900 °C. The structure, phase and morphology were studied by cross-sectional transmission and scanning electron microscopy as well as by X-ray diffraction (XRD), the electrical behaviour by current-voltage measurements. It was obtained that annealing resulted in interdiffusion, lateral diffusion along the surface, alloying and bowling up of the metal layers. The current-voltage characteristics of as-deposited Al and Ti/Al contacts were linear, while the Au and Ti/Au contacts exhibited rectifying behaviour. Except the Ti/Au contact which became linear, the contacts degraded during heat treatment at 900 °C. The surface of Au and Ti/Au contacts annealed at 900 °C have shown fractal-like structures revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy and XRD investigations of the Ti/Au contact revealed that Au diffused into the n-GaN layer at 900 °C. X-ray diffraction examinations showed, that new Ti₂N, Au₂Ga and Ga₃Ti₂ interface phases formed in Ti/Au contact at 900 °C, new Ti₂N phase formed in Ti/Al contact at 700 and 900 °C, as well as new AlN interface phase developed in Ti/Al contact at 900 °C.     

In situ synchrotron high‐energy X‐ray diffraction analysis on phase transformations in Ti–Al alloys processed by equal‐channel angular pressing

Mixtures of 47‐Al and 53‐Ti powders (atomic %) have been consolidated using back pressure equal‐channel angular pressing starting with both raw and ball‐milled powders. In situ synchrotron high‐energy X‐ray diffraction studies are presented with continuous Rietveld analysis obtained upon a heating ramp from 300 K to 1075 K performed after the consolidation process. Initial phase distributions contain all intermetallic compounds of this system except Al, with distribution maxima in the outer regions of the concentrations (α‐Ti, TiAl₃). Upon annealing, the phase evolution and lattice parameter changes owing to chemical segregation, which is in favour for the more equilibrated phases such as γ‐TiAl, α₂‐Ti₃Al and TiAl₂, were followed unprecedentedly in detail. An initial δ‐TiH₂ content with a phase transition at about 625 K upon heating created an intermediate β‐Ti phase which played an important role in the reaction chain and gradually transformed into the final products.     

NiTi合金势能面的第一性原理研究

采用模守恒赝势(Lin方案)和平面波超软赝势对两种NiTi异构体超晶胞势能面进行了理论研究，结果表明：由于在绝对零度下B19′相总能量低于B2相总能量，B19′相更为稳定.对于B2相，合金化元素Au和Fe在Ni原子位处于势能面平衡点而Ni(Ni位)及位于Ti原子位的Ti，Zr 和Al并非处于平衡位置.在B19′相，Ni，Au，Fe，Ti，Zr，Al均处于势能面平衡点.NiTi合金的马氏体相变应该主要是来自Ni、Ti原子位于势能面非平衡位置所致. 关键词： 密度泛函 势能面 NiTi 合金     

Investigation on the structural,electronic, elastic and mechanical properties of Ti2Al(C1-xOx) solid solutions: First-principles calculations

In the present work, the structural, electronic, elastic and mechanical properties of Ti₂AlC and Ti₂Al(C_1-xO_x) solid solutions were investigated using first-principles calculations for varied O content incorporation (x = 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5). According to the calculation results, all Ti₂Al(C_1-xO_x) solid solutions with various x values are stable, and the bonding strength of the Ti–Al bond increases with the doping of O element. In addition, the shear modulus G and C₄₄ elastic constant of Ti₂Al(C_1-xO_x) solid solutions are both lower than the bulk modulus B, indicating that the phase has good damage tolerance. Not only that, compared with Ti₂AlC, the plasticity and toughness of Ti₂Al(C_1-xO_x) solid solutions are improved with the increase of O atom doping and doping ratio. Simultaneously, the doping of O atom is also beneficial to reduce the generalized stacking fault energy of Ti₂AlC, making the Ti₂Al(C_1-xO_x) solid solutions more prone to shear deformation, thereby further enhancing plasticity.     

Structural properties,phase stability,elastic properties and electronic structures of Cu–Ti intermetallics

The structural properties, phase stabilities, anisotropic elastic properties and electronic structures of Cu–Ti intermetallics have been systematically investigated using first principles based on the density functional theory. The calculated equilibrium structural parameters agree well with available experimental data. The ground-state convex hull of formation enthalpies as a function of Cu content is slightly symmetrical at CuTi with a minimal formation enthalpy (–13.861 kJ/mol of atoms), which indicates that CuTi is the most stable phase. The mechanical properties, including elastic constants, polycrystalline moduli and anisotropic indexes, were evaluated. G/B is more pertinent to hardness than to the shear modulus G due to the high power indexes of 1.137 for G/B. The mechanical anisotropy was also characterized by describing the three-dimensional (3D) surface constructions. The order of elastic anisotropy is Cu₄Ti₃ > Cu₃Ti₂ > α-Cu₄Ti > Cu₂Ti > CuTi > β-Cu₄Ti > CuTi₂. Finally, the electronic structures were discussed and Cu₂Ti is a semiconductor.     

A Raman spectroscopic and TEM study on the structural evolution of Na2Ti3O7 during the transition to Na2Ti6O13

The synthesis of sodium hexatitanate from sodium trititanate was characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The structural evolution from trititanate to hexatitanate was studied using Raman spectra, XRD and HRTEM techniques. It was found that the Raman bands at 279 cm⁻¹ corresponding to very long Ti O bonds and at 883 cm⁻¹ corresponding to the very short Ti O bonds decrease in intensity and finally disappear during the transition from sodium trititanate to sodium hexatitanate. The band at 922 cm⁻¹ corresponding to an intermediate‐length Ti O bond was observed to become stronger with the increase in temperature, indicating that there is no terminal oxygen atom in the crystal structure of Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ and that all the oxygen atoms become linearly coordinated by two titanium atoms. Furthermore, the TiO₆ octahedron in Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ are more regular because the very long (2.2 Å) or very short (1.7 Å) Ti O bonds disappear. It is revealed that the phase transition from trititanate to hexatitanate is a step‐by‐step slipping process of the TiO₆ octahedral slabs with the loss of sodium cations, and a new phase with formula Na_1.5H_0.5Ti₃O₇ has been discovered as an intermediate phase to interlink Na₂Ti₃O₇ and Na₂Ti₆O₁₃. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The behavior of 3d electrons and defects in TiAl-based alloys containing V and Cu studied by positron annihilation

Information of defects and 3d electrons in transition metals (Ti, V, Cu) and TiAl-based alloys (Ti₅₀Al₅₀, Ti₅₀Al₄₈V₂, Ti₅₀Al₄₈Cu₂) can be extracted from the positron lifetime and coincidence Doppler broadening spectra. The results show that the 3d electron signals for the transition metals Ti, V and Cu increase with the number of 3d electrons. The 3d electron signal and the electron density for binary TiAl alloy are relatively low due to the (Ti)3d-(Al)3p interactions. The addition of V and Cu atoms to TiAl alloy leads to the increase in the electron densities in bulk and the defects on grain boundaries simultaneously, as well as the enhancement of the 3d electron signal. The 3d electron signal in the spectrum of Ti₅₀Al₄₈Cu₂ alloy is higher than that of Ti₅₀Al₄₈V₂ alloy.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of nano-Y2O3 dispersed ferritic steel synthesized by mechanical alloying and consolidated by pulse plasma sintering

Ferritic steel with compositions 83.0Fe–13.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy A), 79.0Fe–17.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy B), 75.0Fe–21.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy C) and 71.0Fe–25.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy D) (all in wt%) each with a 1.0?wt% nano-Y₂O₃ dispersion were synthesized by mechanical alloying and consolidated by pulse plasma sintering at 600, 800 and 1000°C using a 75-MPa uniaxial pressure applied for 5?min and a 70-kA pulse current at 3?Hz pulse frequency. X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and energy disperse spectroscopy techniques have been used to characterize the microstructural and phase evolution of all the alloys at different stages of mechano-chemical synthesis and consolidation. Mechanical properties in terms of hardness, compressive strength, yield strength and Young's modulus were determined using a micro/nano-indenter and universal testing machine. All ferritic alloys recorded very high levels of compressive strength (850–2850?MPa), yield strength (500–1556?MPa), Young's modulus (175–250?GPa) and nanoindentation hardness (9.5–15.5?GPa), with up to 1–1.5 times greater strength than other oxide dispersion-strengthened ferritic steels (<1200?MPa). These extraordinary levels of mechanical properties can be attributed to the typical microstructure of uniform dispersion of 10–20-nm Y₂Ti₂O₇ or Y₂O₃ particles in a high-alloy ferritic matrix.     

Electronic structure,phase stability,and vibrational properties of Ir-based intermetallic compound IrX (X=Al,Sc, and Ga)

The phase stability and mechanical properties of B2 type IrX (X=Al, Sc and Ga) compounds are investigated. Self-consistenttotal-energy calculations in the framework of density functional theory using the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) to determine the equations of state and the elastic constants of IrX (X=Al, Sc, and Ga) in the B2 phase have been performed. The calculations predicted the equilibrium lattice constants, which are about 1% greater than experiments for IrAl, 1.81% for IrGa, and 0.71% for IrSc compound. IrAl is shown to be the least compressible, and it is followed by IrGa and the IrSc compound. The phase stability of the studied compounds is checked. The brittleness and ductility properties of IrX (X=Al, Sc, and Ga) are determined by Poisson's ratio σ criterion and Pugh's criterion. IrGa compound is a ductile material; however, IrAl and IrSc show brittleness. The band structure and density of states (DOS), and phonon dispersion curves have been obtained and analyzed. The position of the Fermi level and the contribution of d electrons to the density of states near E_F is studied and discussed in detail. We also used the phonon density of states and quasiharmonic approximation to calculate and predict some thermodynamic properties such as constant-volume specific heat capacity of the B2 phase of IrX (X=Al, Sc and Ga) compounds.     

β-ω transformation under pressure ans stacking soliton model for diffuse omega phase in TiV alloys

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies have been done on TiV alloys before and after application of high pressure to check the stacking soliton model of the diffuse omega phase. gb-ω transformation under high pressure was noticed in Ti_0.81 V_0.19 and Ti_0.72 V_0.28 alloys, thereby proving that ω-clusters prefer a smaller lattice parameter than that of the β-phase. However, the β-ω cell constant discrepancy is too small compared to theoretical predictions. Further, pressure causes incommensurate to commensurate phase transition. These results point out to the inadequacies of one-dimensional theories for diffuse omega phase.     

Vapor quenched Fe-Ti alloys: Formation of amorphous phase,and metastable Ti2Fe phase by aging

Mössbauer spectra were observed for amorphous Fe-Ti alloys produced by vapor quenching. The average values of the hyperfine field, the quadrupole splitting and the isomer shift vary gradually with increase in Ti concentration. After being annealed at 400°C for few hours, the amorphous phase is maintained around 33 at % Ti, while an intermediate phase, Ti₂Fe, appears around 67 at % Ti.