Effect of plastic deformation on microdistortions and mean-square displacements of atoms in a solid solution of the α-phase of low-carbon ferritic-martensitic steel

Changes in the parameters of a solid solution of the ??-phase of ferritic-martensitic steel subjected to uniaxial static tension at room temperature are studied. It is established that the release of substitutional alloying elements from the solid solution, accompanied by the formation of intermetallic phases at the boundaries of ferrite grains, lowers the lattice parameter of the ??-phase and the quadratic mean total displacements during plastic deformation at the stage of neck formation.     

Effect of dissolution of Θ-phase on characteristic parameters of work-hardening in AL-2·5wt. % Cu alloy

Stress-strain curves of slowly cooled and quenched Al-2·5 wt. % Cu alloy were studied in the temperature range 693 K to 773 K. The linear work-hardening coefficient, the fracture time, the yield stress and the fracture stress of annealed and quenched samples decreased with increasing deformation temperature and exhibited a minimum at 733 K. The X-ray analysis of the slowly cooled and quenched samples showed that the lattice parametera of Al-matrix and the ratioc/a of the tetragonal -phase reached a minimum and a maximum value, respectively, at the dissolution temperature.     

First-principles study of the effect of iron on the crystal structure,stability and chemical bonding in the β-based AlCu ordered η2-phase and the pretransition state of a solid solution

First-principles calculations showed that the thermodynamic stability of β-based ordered η₂-AlCu phase doped with Fe is due to iron substitution in the copper sublattice (Fe_Cu), which corresponds to the maximum number of Fe–Al bonds in the first cubic coordination polyhedron. This iron localisation leads to stable ω-like atomic displacements and pentagonal Al-nets in the (010) plane of η₂-AlCu(Fe). This phase with iron substituting copper (e/a?=?1.925) is an energetically preferred η-based non-canonical approximant of the icosahedral phase (e/a?=?1.86). The energy gain for the Fe_Cu position is determined by strong covalent Fe3d–Al3p bonding, while there is a weak Fe3d–Cu4s3d hybridisation for the Fe_Al substitution. Using a composite cluster model, we demonstrate that short-range order in the pretransition state of the β-Al–Cu–Fe solid solution observed prior to the precipitation of η-phase is stabilised due to formation of Fe–Al bonds in the first cubic coordination polyhedron of the composite cluster.     

The kinetics of the formation of a solid solution in an Ag–Pd polycrystalline film system

The kinetics of homogenization of an Ag–Pd film system with a total thickness of 120 nm and a grain size of 5–10 nm has been studied by means of in situ TEM heating. The film system has been formed by the sequential deposition of components in a vacuum on the substrate at room temperature. It has been shown that diffusion processes are activated, starting from the temperature 453 K, resulting in complete homogenization of the film system at 573 K with preservation of its fine-grained structure. The effective diffusion coefficient in the Ag–Pd system was measured as 10^?17–10^?18 m²/s at 553 K. A possible mechanism of homogenization is discussed.     

Examination of the distribution of the tensile deformation systems in tension and tension-creep of Ti-6Al-4V (wt.%) at 296 K and 728 K

The deformation behaviour of an α + β Ti–6Al–4V (wt.%) alloy was investigated during in situ deformation inside a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile experiments were performed at 296 and 728 K (~0.4Tm), while a tensile-creep experiment was performed at 728 K and 310 MPa (σ/σ_ys = 0.74). The active deformation systems were identified using electron backscattered diffraction-based slip-trace analysis and SEM images of the specimen surface. The distribution of the active deformation systems varied as a function of temperature. Basal slip deformation played a major role in the tensile deformation behaviour, and the relative activity of basal slip increased with increasing temperature. For the 296 K tension deformation, basal slip was less active than prismatic slip, whereas this was reversed at 728 K. Twinning was observed in both the 296 and 728 K tension experiments; however, no more than 4% of the total deformation systems observed was twins. The tension-creep experiment revealed no slip traces, however grain boundary ledge formation was observed, suggesting that grain boundary sliding was an active deformation mechanism. The results of this work were compared with those from previous studies on commercially pure Ti, Ti–5Al–2.5Sn (wt.%) and Ti–8Al–1Mo–1V (wt.%), and the effects of alloying on the deformation behaviour are discussed. The relative amount of basal slip activity increased with increasing Al content.     

Extended scaling in the magnetic critical phenomenology of the σ-phase Fe0.53-Cr0.47 and Fe0.52-V0.48 alloys

The magnetization of the sigma-phase Fe(0.53)Cr(0.47) and Fe(0.52)V(0.48) alloys was studied as a function of temperature and field. The experiments show that both materials behave magnetically as re-entrant spin glass systems. Field versus temperature diagrams were obtained where the locations of the paramagnetic phase, the intermediate ferromagnetic-like phase and the spin glass fundamental state were displayed. These diagrams are in qualitative agreement with the predictions of the mean field theory for the interplay between the ferromagnetic and spin glass orderings. The critical phenomenology near the para-ferromagnetic transition could be investigated. It was found that the paramagnetic susceptibility is quite well described by the extended scaling scheme, where the reduced temperature is written as τ = (T - T(c))/T. The value obtained for the susceptibility critical exponent γ is intermediate between the prediction of the 3D Heisenberg universality class and the large values observed in spin glasses, as previously found in other re-entrant systems. The data do not confirm the validity of the extended scaling in the ferromagnetic-like phase. Using either the conventional or extended scaling protocols, the exponents β and δ were found to have values close to those reported for spin glass transitions. Despite the relevance of disorder and the anomalous values determined for β, γ and δ, the Widom scaling relation holds as an equality.     

Effect of Prolonged Thermal Exposure on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Zr – 1 wt.% Nb and Ti – 45 wt.% Nb Ultrafine-Grained Bioinert Alloys

Russian Physics Journal - The results on thermal stability of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Zr – 1 wt.% Nb and Ti – 45 wt.% Nb ultrafine-grained alloys subjected to...     

Experimental and theoretical XANES study of the effcets of Fe—Mg solid solution in the enstatit—ferrosilite series

Synthetic orthopyroxenes in the join enstatite-ferrosilite (Mg2Si2O6-Fe2Si2O6)have been studied by XANES with the aim to interpret the variations found in the spectra and evaluate the effects of the Mg-Fe substitution in the orthopyroxene(OPX) structure.The experimental Fe-and Mg-K edge XANES spectra show variations of the peaks intensity as a function of the chemical composition of the samples along the EN-FS join.In the region of the Fe edge,the intensity ratio between peak A and B(IB/IA)varies linearly(R=0.99) with the Mg/Fe substitution. Multiple scattering calculation have been performed both at the Fe and Mg K-edge,to study the geometrical modifications of the M1 and M2 octahedral sites induced by the Mg-Fe substitutions.The spectra,obtained locating Fe(or Mg)in both M1 and M2 and weighing the contributions using the occupancy data for the M1 and M2 sites determined by XRD,allow to discriminate the effects to the total spectrum due to Fe(Mg) located in each sites separately.     

Decomposition of an Fe-Cr 38 wt.% chromium stainless steel at 475 °C

The physical changes occurring at 475 °C in an Nb and Al stabilized stainless steel containing 38 wt.% Cr have been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The specimen started to decompose when held at 475 °C. Decomposition still continues after 500 hours into a paramagnetic Cr-rich -phase and a nearly pure Fe -phase. The magnetic field distribution of the initial sample indicates that considerable decomposition has already taken place into an -phase with an estimated 15 at.% iron, and an iron-rich -phase with an estimated 18 at.% Cr.     

Spectroscopy of 47K and proton core-excitations in 48Ca from the 48Ca(t, α)47K reaction

The ⁴⁸Ca(t, α)⁴⁷ K reaction has been measured at 33 MeV bombarding energy. Spectroscopic information has been extracted for 13 states in ⁴⁷K and 9 new levels have been observed in this nucleus. A comparison of Spectroscopic factors is made with a recent shell-model calculation and the presence of proton core-excitations in the ground state of ⁴⁸Ca is examined.     

The Influence of Ultrafine-Grained State of Zr – 1 wt.% Nb and Ti – 45 wt.% Nb Alloys on their Thermophysical Properties and Energy Dissipation and Accumulation during Deformation

Russian Physics Journal - The results of a study of thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of Zr – 1 wt.% Nb and Ti – 45 wt.% Nb alloys in coarse-grained and ultrafine-grained...     

Ageing characteristics of the metastable gamma phase in U–9 wt.% Mo alloy: experimental observations and thermodynamic validation

Ageing characteristics of the metastable bcc γ-phase in U–9 wt.% Mo alloy, a candidate for high uranium density nuclear fuel for research and test reactors, have been investigated in this study. Analyses of the aged microstructures, employing X-ray diffraction and various microscopy techniques, revealed the decomposition mechanism of the metastable γ-phase to the stable α-U and γ′ (U₂Mo) phases. A discontinuous precipitation reaction, leading to the generation of partially transformed cellular colonies with lamellae comprising of either the α-phase or the γ′-phase in γ-phase matrix, was found to be operative. The in situ transformation of γ interlamellar regions to the γ′-phase was noticed occasionally within the γ + α lamellar colonies. Thermodynamic analysis of the U–Mo system, using free energy–composition diagrams, could associate the observed attributes of the decomposition of γ-phase to the extent of Mo segregation and the chemical driving force required for the nucleation of α- and γ′-phases in the γ-matrix.     

A resistometric investigation of the decomposition kinetics of Al-21·8 at.% Zn solid solution at 276 °C

Under the condition of nearly equilibrium concentration of vacancies, time dependence of the amount of isothermal transformation given byy=R/R _f was investigated whereR _f is the total structural change of resistivity on completion of the whole process andR is the measured resistivity change. The investigation was done on the 21·8 at.% (40·3wt.%) Zn alloy under the condition of relatively low supersaturation of a few degrees centigrade below the metastable _R solvus line. The total transformation involves four kinetic stages: the first two stages correspond probably to diffusion-controlled growth of the _R particles from the supersaturated solid solution and to the ripening of these particles till their conversion to the cubic phase takes place. The last two kinetic stages account analogously for the particles growth and ripening. Both _R and phases were identified by the transmission electron microscopy. When separating the individual stages, the approximation byy=1–exp [–(mt) ⁿ] of the amount of transformationy was used. The approximation allowed to get the starting values of both the time and the change of the structural part of the electrical resistance for individual stages and also to derive the parametersm _i, n_i which had to be redetermined for the individual separated stages. These data made it possible to synthetize the experimental curves ofR andy vs. time for the total transformation.It is a pleasure to thank Doc. Dr. V.Syneek CSc. for stimulating the author's interest in this problem and for providing helpful discussions. I also would like to express my thanks to Ing. P.Bartuka CSc. for the transmission electron microscopic study carried out to identify the particular phases. The author is indebted to Ing.V. íma for the preparation of the investigated alloy and to Mrs. A.Mendlová and Mr. P.Vyhlídka for technical assistance.     

Dielectric studies of phase transitions in the ferroelectric CdTiO3 and the Sr1−x CdxTiO3 solid solution

Temperature dependences of the permittivity and of the dielectric hysteresis loops in ceramic samples of nominally pure CdTiO₃ and a Sr_1?x Cd_xTiO₃ solid solution were studied. At 76.5±0.5 K, CdTiO₃ was established to undergo a ferroelectric phase transition close to the tricritical point. The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization of CdTiO₃ is described within the Landau theory of phase transitions with the critical order parameter exponent ≈0.25. The phase diagram of the Sr_1?x Cd_xTiO₃ solid solution was drawn in (T, x) coordinates, and the critical concentration x _c =0.002, above which an induced polar state sets in the solid solution, was determined.     

The diffusion of hydrogen in b.c.c. VTi solid solutions

Recent data for the variation of the diffusivity of hydrogen in b.c.c. VTi solid solutions with Ti-concentration and temperature have been analyzed in terms of the cell model for such ternary solid solutions. The data have been shown to be compatible with this model and a simple cell energy spectrum involving H-metal interactions which are linearly dependent upon the Ti-concentration.It is shown that the interaction energies deduced from the kinetic behavior of the system are in good accord with thermodynamic data for the VH and TiH terminal solid solutions.     

Precipitation sequences and transformation kinetics in the Al-30 wt.% Zn alloy aged below 160°C

The transformation sequences in the Al-30 wt.% Zn alloy aged below 160 °C have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The sequence G.-P. zones _R has been observed between 85 and 161 °C, whereas the direct G.-P. zones to-transformation occurs below 85 °C. The identical isothermal growth kinetics of both the G.-P. zones and the _R -precipitates was found. The log-log plots yielding a set of parallel straight lines from 50 to 150 °C indicate no change in the activation energy of growth of both these precipitates. The change in the precipitation sequence led to the change in the transformation kinetics. The T-T-T curves have been measured for the formation of metastable _R -phase and for the completion of ellipsoidal G.-P. zones or of _R to-transformation. The retardation in reaching equilibrium found below 85 °C was associated with the observed change in the transformation sequence. This was explained by the different accommodation of the misfit at the interfaces between G.-P. zones or _R -precipitates and the-matrix.The authors are much indebted to Doc. Dr. V.Syneek, CSc. for stimulating discussions. Our thanks are also due to Ing. V.íma and Mr. P.Vyhlídka for the preparation and careful chemical analyses of the investigated samples. The assistance of Mr. Z.iký and Mr. V.Petr in X-ray diffraction measurements and the heat-treatment of samples is appreciated.     

The activation and the spreading of deformation in a fully lamellar Ti–47 at.% Al–1 at.% Cr–0.2 at.% Si Alloy

The spreading of deformation in a lamellar Ti–47?at.% Al–1?at.% Cr–0.2?at.% Si alloy deformed under compression is studied at 25°C and 600°C. This microstructure is largely dominated by twin-related variants which are separated by either twin interfaces or thin α ₂ slabs. The alloy deforms at both temperatures by ordinary dislocations and twins. Deformation in a particular γ variant and its adjacent twin-related variant involves the same kind of glide system, either ordinary dislocations or twins. This property is found to be true for all twin-related lamellae. The occurrence of this correlated glide is explained by the introduction of the notion of pilot and driven orientations. The lamellar orientation in which the operating glide system is activated on the basis of Schmid factor considerations is termed the pilot orientation. It imposes its deformation system on to the twin-related lamella, called the driven orientation, whose deformation may not involve the slip system most favoured by the applied stress.     

E.S.R. spectra of the radicals produced in γ-irradiated diborane in the solid state

The hopping and Coulomb repulsion integrals of the Hubbard model, as applied to the NMP-TCNQ charge-transfer crystal, are found by an INDO calculation of the neutral and charged monomer and dimer of TCNQ. The ratio of these integrals is in satisfactory agreement with experiment, although the calculated integrals themselves are very different from the effective ones for electronic transport, due to renormalization, caused largely by counter-ion polarizability.     

The effect of iron and silicon on precipitation processes in the Al-30 wt.% Zn alloy aged at 90 °C

The effect of different amounts of Fe and Si impurities in the Al-30 wt.% Zn alloy on both the continuous and the discontinuous precipitation at 90 °C was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and by X-ray diffraction. The results show that the growth of G.-P. zones and _R -precipitates as well as the rate of their transformation into the equilibrium -precipitates are unaffected by Fe and Si impurities. The experiments revealed, however, a significant retardation of the nucleation of lamellar aggregates of equilibrium phases on grain boundaries and a pronounced reduction of the growth of lamellae into the grains by the presence of Fe and Si atoms in the alloy. Their influence on the rate of cellular reaction was attributed to the impurity-drag effect on the cell-boundary motion.In conclusion we wish to express our thanks to Mr. Z.iký for his help in the X-ray diffraction measurements and to Mr. P.Vyhlídka for chemical analyses of the investigated samples.