Site-diluted quantum Heisenberg spin model applied to the magnetic properties of Fe–Al disordered alloys

In this work we present a theoretical study of the magnetic behavior of disordered Fe–Al alloys on the basis of a simple-diluted quantum Heisenberg spin model with the assumption that the exchange interaction J depends on the Al concentration q. We calculated the critical temperature and exponents through the mean field renormalization group method. An acceptable fit to the experimental phase diagram for Al concentration in the range 0.30q0.45 is obtained.     

Effect of processing parameters on the structure and magnetic properties of Nd60Fe30Al10 alloy

Although rapidly solidified Nd–Fe–Al alloys exhibit hard magnetic properties they so far have not found any practical application, however, their study has great scientific meaning. Investigations of the Nd–Fe–Al alloys enable one to evaluate the effect of magnetic interactions, between nanoscale precipitates, having different structure and properties, on the macroscopically observed phenomena. The evolution of microstructure in the course of annealing is generally unclear. Most of the reported data were obtained for different materials, using various processing methods, which makes their comparison difficult. It was shown that different fabrication methods (melt spinning, suction casting) generate different properties. On the other hand, for the particular processing method the structure and magnetic properties are highly affected by the processing variables.

In this study the samples fabricated by two methods were compared. Melt spinning, with the roll speed 5–30 m/s, and casting into moulds having bore diameters 1, 3, 6 and 12 mm were used. The alloy composition was kept constant Nd₆₀Fe₃₀Al₁₀. Strong dependence of the magnetic properties on quenching rate was proved. Application of the appropriate processing variables for both the methods (roll speed or rode diameter) enables one to obtain comparable quenching rates and thus overall similar magnetic properties. However, for the cylindrical specimens different cooling rates for the surface and core produces a structural gradient, which leads to variation of the magnetic properties on the sample cross-section. The structural and property gradients were evaluated using SEM and magnetic measurements, respectively.     

Coexisting antiferromagnetism and ferromagnetism in mechanically alloyed Fe-rich Fe–Ni alloys: implications regarding the Fe–Ni phase diagram below 400°C

Fe–Ni alloys below the Invar region with compositions Fe_100−xNi_x (x=21, 24, and 27 at%) were prepared by high-energy ball milling technique (mechanical alloying). The as-milled samples, characterized by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy, contain a mixture of (BCC) and γ (FCC) phases, whereas the samples annealed at 650°C for 0.5 h show a single γ (FCC) phase displaying a single line Mössbauer spectrum at room temperature (RT). At low temperature, the Mössbauer spectra of annealed Fe₇₆Ni₂₄ and Fe₇₃Ni₂₇ alloys show the existence of a magnetically split pattern together with a broad singlet, which are ascribed to a high-moment ferromagnetic Ni-rich phase and a low-moment Fe-rich phase, respectively. The Fe-rich phase in annealed Fe₇₆Ni₂₄ alloy, which is paramagnetic at RT, undergoes antiferromagnetic ordering at 40 K, estimated from the dramatic line broadening of its spectrum, giving rise to a small hyperfine field (e.g. 2 T at 6 K). The coexistence of these phases is attributed to phase segregation occurring in these alloys as a result of enhanced atomic diffusion. The stability of these alloys towards martensitic (FCC→BCC) transformation at low temperatures is discussed in connection with the Fe–Ni phase diagram below 400°C.     

Analysis of atomic arrangement in magnetic Fe–Pt nanoparticles

The order parameter S of Fe–Pt nanoparticles is estimated from X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The total intensity of a diffraction peak is obtained by Rietveld analysis as well as simply integrating the intensity. The Rietveld analysis is found to provide a plausible value of S even for a sample showing an XRD pattern with broad and overlapped peaks. Another order parameter Q, which is obtained from Mössbauer spectra, is introduced, and it is confirmed that Q is equivalent to the probability of Fe atoms being in the L1₀-type atomic arrangement. The coercivity of Fe–Pt nanoparticles is directly proportional to Q, while it vanishes at S=0.4, indicating that the magnetic property of Fe–Pt nanoparticles has a closer relationship to Q than S.     

Impact of Al addition on the formation of Ni germanosilicide layers under different temperature annealing

Solid reactions between Ni and relaxed Si_0.7Ge_0.3 substrate were systematically investigated with different Al interlayer thicknesses. The morphology, composition, and micro-structure of the Ni germanosilicide layers were analyzed with different annealing temperatures in the appearance of Al. The germanosilicide layers were characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, cross-section transmission electron microscopy, scan transmission electron microscopy, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy. It was shown that the incorporation of Al improved the surface and interface morphology of the germanosilicide layers, enhanced the thermal stabilities, and retarded the Ni-rich germanosilicide phase to mono germanosilicide phase. With increasing annealing temperature, Al atoms distributed from the Ni/Si_0.7Ge_0.3 interface to the total layer of Ni₂Si_0.7Ge_0.3, and finally accumulated at the surface of NiSi_0.7Ge_0.3. We found that under the assistance of Al atoms, the best quality Ni germanosilicide layer was achieved by annealing at 700 ℃ in the case of 3 nm Al.     

Laser interference metallurgy: A new method for periodic surface microstructure design on multilayered metallic thin films

Methods for micro- and nanostructuring are essential for functionalization of materials surfaces. In particular, photon-assisted methods for synthesis of functional surfaces have been intensively investigated in the last years. In this study, a new method for surface modification and production of long-range order periodical structures called “laser interference metallurgy” is explored. A metallic thin film sample consisting of three layers composed of Fe, Cu and Al (from top to bottom) on a glass substrate was irradiated with an interference pattern using a Nd:YAG laser (wavelength of 355 nm, 10 ns of pulse duration). For the interference pattern, a configuration producing a line-type energy distribution was chosen. The laser fluence was high enough to melt the aluminium and copper layers at the interference maxima but the iron layer remained in the solid state. Thus, diffusive and convective exchange occurred between aluminium and copper at the energy maxima positions leading to periodical alloy formation with a long-range order. Because it remained in solid state, the iron layer at the top acted as a protective layer effectively preventing removal of the molten layers. The interaction of the different layers was characterized using FIB, TEM and EDX in STEM mode.     

耐蚀合金Al3Ni和Ni3Al液态冷凝过程的比较研究

采用F S多体势对液态合金Al3Ni和Ni3Al在不同冷却速度下的微观结构及其转变机制进行了分子动力学模拟 ,得到了不同冷速下各温度的双体分布函数 ;采用HA键型指数法对其结构进行了分析 ,结果表明 :Al3Ni在两种冷速下均以非晶的形式出现 ,只是慢冷时体系的有序度略有升高 ;而Ni3Al的结构及能量转变受冷速影响较大 ,快冷时形成非晶 ,而慢冷时出现明显结晶 ;同样冷速下Al含量较少的Ni3Al体系的有序度高 ,更易形成晶体 ,晶体的形成过程中有能量突变 .     

热物性参量对飞秒激光烧蚀金属影响的分子动力学模拟

利用结合双温模型的分子动力学模拟方法,研究了飞秒激光与金属相互作用的烧蚀机制.采用中心波长为800 nm,能量密度从0.043 J·cm~(-2)到0.40 J·cm~(-2)不等,脉宽分别为70 fs和200 fs的激光烧蚀金属镍和铝材料.靶材的温度、原子位型以及内部压力随时间的演化展示了材料热物性参量特性和激光参量对烧蚀结果的影响.结果显示材料电子热传导率对飞秒脉宽激光下的影响仍然较大;对比铝和镍的结果可知,铝的电子晶格耦合系数比镍的小,故电子晶格间的温度梯度持续时间较长;铝的电子热传导系数比镍的大,所以材料上下表面电子温度耦合的时间缩短.铝薄膜表面在能量密度为0.40 J·cm~(-2)激光烧蚀下呈现纳米尺寸的晶体结构.     

Microstructure and tribological behaviors of Ti6Al4V alloy treated by plasma Ni alloying

Ni modified layer was prepared on surface of the Ti6Al4V substrate by plasma surface alloying technique. Surface morphology, micro-structure, composition distribution, phase structure, and microhardness of the Ni modified layer were analyzed. Tribological performance of the Ni modified layer and Ti6Al4V substrate was investigated by using pin-on-disc tribometer. The results indicate that roughness of the Ni modified layer was increased due to formation of the micro-convex on the modified surface. The concentration of Ni gradually decreased from the surface to interior. The maximum content of Ni atoms was nearly 90%. The modified layer was composed of TiNi, Ti2Ni and Ti phases. The maximum microhardness of the Ni modified layer was about 677 HV_0.025 which was increased about two-fold of microhardness of the control Ti6Al4V substrate. Wear resistance of the Ni modified layer was improved obviously, and showed micro-abrasion wearing. The strengthened mechanism of the as-treated Ti6Al4V alloy is discussed.     

第一性原理研究Ni_3Al_(1-x)V_x(x=0-0.4)的力学和热力学性质

采用第一性原理方法研究了Ni_3Al_(1-x)V_x(x=0-0.4)的力学性质,发现当V含量为0.1时,Ni_3Al_(1-x)V_x的块体模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量和硬度都出现极大值,因此V掺杂对于Ni_3Al力学性能的提升具有重要作用.另外,还研究了不同压强下Ni_3Al_(0.9)V_(0.1)的吉布斯自由能、焓、熵、热容等热力学性质随温度的变化关系,结果表明:在高温高压条件下,Ni_3Al_(0.9)V_(0.1)的吉布斯自由能、焓、熵、定压热容都出现明显变化.通过计算Ni_3Al_(0.9)V_(0.1)的体膨胀系数,发现压强对于Ni_3Al_(0.9)V_(0.1)的体膨胀效应具有明显的抑制作用.     

Synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties of Fe–Al nanopins

We report the synthesis of Fe–Al nanopins using arc discharge. The morphology and chemical composition of the Fe–Al nanopins were studied by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The nanopins are composed of a spherical base of about 20–100 nm and a needle-like tip of about several hundred nanometers. EDX and HRTEM studies indicate that the spherical base is mainly composed of -Fe and FeAl core coated with a thin Al₂O₃ layer, while the needle-like part contains only Al and O and corresponds to Al₂O₃. The formation mechanism of the nanopins is suggestive of a vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) growth process. The as-prepared Fe–Al nanopins show ferromagnetic properties. The temperature dependence of the magnetization at high temperatures indicates the existence of some phase transformations.     

AFM and SEM characterization of non-toxic vanadium-free Ti alloys used as biomaterials

In this work, three titanium alloys have been studied by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine their surface topography. The alloys investigated were Ti–6Al–7Nb, Ti–13Nb–13Zr, and Ti–15Zr–4Nb, with no presence of the toxic element V, and with a possible use as biomaterials for osteoarticular prostheses. These alloys were studied at room temperature and also after a thermal treatment at 750 °C during 24 h, which produces a protective surface oxide layer. The aim of the present work is to compare the surface structure and morphology of the alloys, both as-received and after the oxide layer was formed at elevated temperature.     

Production of two-dimensional periodical structures by laser interference irradiation on bi-layered metallic thin films

The production of one- and two-dimensional periodical structures produced by Laser Interference Metallurgy (LIMET) on bi-layered metallic films by using nanosecond pulsed laser is reported. The systems investigated are Fe/Al and Cu/Al and represent model systems where the melting point of the upper layer is higher tan the lower one. Aspect ratio, height and width of the structures are discussed as a function of laser fluence, partial energies and arrangement of the laser beams. Cross sectional analysis of the structured samples demonstrates the flux of molten metal parallel to the thermal gradient generated by the laser heating.     

Magnetic properties of ball-milled Fe–Mn alloys

BCC, FCC and HCP phases in Fe–13.7 wt% Mn alloys were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, after ball milling. The relative amounts of the HCP and FCC phases increase with milling times up to 9 h and decline afterwards. Preliminary AC susceptibility measurements show that the blocking temperatures change for different milling times.     

The influence of ingot annealing on the corrosion resistance of a PrFeCoBNbP alloy

The influence of the annealing time on the corrosion resistance of a Pr–Fe–Co–B–Nb alloy with the addition of 0.1 wt% P was investigated here using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The cast ingot alloys were annealed at 1100 °C for 10, 15 and 20 h. The specimens were immersed for 30 days in naturally aerated 0.02 M Na₂HPO₄ solution at room temperature, during which period the evolution of the electrochemical behavior was assessed using EIS. The results indicated that the corrosion resistance of the Pr₁₄Fe_balCo₁₆B₆Nb_0.1P_0.25 alloy was related to the annealing time and, hence, to its microstructure. Annealing at 1100 °C for 10 h was insufficient to eliminate the Fe- phase from the alloy microstructure, whereas annealing for 15 and 20 h removed an increasing amount of Fe- phase, thereby increasing the alloy's corrosion resistance.     

Influence of film thickness on laser ablation of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films

Single-pulse damage thresholds of hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films were measured for 8-ns laser pulses at 532-nm wavelength. Layer thicknesses from below the optical penetration depth to above the thermal diffusion length (60 nm–13 μm) were examined. After correction of the damage-threshold values for the fraction of energy effectively absorbed by the material, the damage threshold was found to increase linearly with the layer thickness, also for film thicknesses below the optical penetration depth of a-C:H. The threshold fluence reached the bulk value for a layer thickness equal to the thermal diffusion length. The thermal diffusion coefficient was obtained from fitting the experimental data. Several phenomena like graphitization, blistering, exfoliation, and ablation were observed for different fluence regimes and film thicknesses. PACS 79.20.Ds; 06.60.Jn; 78.66.Jg     

Field-induced local magnetic moments in γ (FCC) Fe–Ni anti-Invar alloys

Mössbauer spectroscopy in longitudinal external fields (up to 7 T) and SQUID magnetometry (up to 5 T) measurements have been carried out on mechanically alloyed (MA) γ (FCC) Fe_100−xNi_x (x=21, 24, and 27 at%) alloys at room temperature. The zero-field Mössbauer spectra of these alloys show only singlets. The high field Mössbauer results indicate that large amounts of the material is in the paramagnetic state, giving rise to two spectral components with their effective fields almost linearly depend on the external field, but with slopes that are smaller than unity. The in-field Mössbauer spectra of the x=27 at% alloy show an additional component with a hyperfine field of ≈21 T, which is attributed to Ni-rich (>30 at% Ni) clusters (domains) of ferromagnetically ordered HM phase that behaves superparamagnetically at room temperature and shows a non-linear character in the magnetization (M–H) curves at low fields. This HM phase is also present in the x=21 and 24 at% samples but with smaller amounts. The results suggest induced hyperfine fields and hence induced moments in the paramagnetic components, which increases with increasing Ni contents. Taenite-enriched samples from the metal particles of two stony meteorites, Al Kidirate (H6) and New Halfa (L4), are also studied by high field Mössbauer spectroscopy and the results are compared to that of MA samples.     

An analysis of the beam interaction characteristics of selected lasers with an alpha-alumina bioceramic

Certain differences between the interaction characteristics of a CO₂ laser, a Nd:YAG laser and a high power diode laser with an alpha-alumina bioceramic have been investigated. For each laser the fluence threshold values at which significant material removal occurs were found graphically. Through the implementation of a derivative of Beer–Lambert's law, the laser beam absorption lengths were calculated along with the thermal loading values. An examination of the laser-induced meltpool propagation in the alpha-alumina revealed good agreement with the Stefan solution to the heat diffusion equation for the lasers. Absorptivity measurements revealed that there was no correlation between the actual absorptivity of the alpha-alumina and the absorption length for each of the three lasers on account of the absorptivity measurements being similar for each laser. However, differences in the depth of melting experienced by the alpha-alumina meant that it is reasonable to assume that absorption length is the principal influence on the melt depth.     

Atomic force microscopical and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopical investigation of sub-micrometer metal gratings generated by UV laser-based two-beam interference in Au-Ag bimetallic layers

Metal films containing silver and gold layers having different thicknesses were evaporated on glass substrates. Two-beam interference technique was applied to irradiate the surfaces by the fourth harmonic of a pulsed mode Nd:YAG laser. The atomic force microscopical study showed that surface relief grating having a period of 900 nm corresponding to the interference pattern was developed on the metallic films. The modulation amplitude of the laser-induced gratings was increasable by enhancing the number of laser pulses at constant fluence, and a groove depth commensurable with the film thicknesses was generated at the average fluence of 39.5 mJ/cm² on bimetallic layers. The surface structure was more regular, and the modulation amplitude was larger in case of bimetallic films containing thicker gold layers. The threshold fluences of the phase transitions were determined by numerical temperature model calculations for different metal layer compositions, and a good agreement was found between the calculated and experimentally observed threshold values. The division of the metal stripes into droplets and the development of holes were explained by the melting of the entire metal layers and by the vaporization of silver at higher fluences. The angle-dependent surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy realized in Kretschmann arrangement proved that the laser-induced grating formation was accompanied by the change in the optical thickness and by the modification of the structure of the bimetallic films. Broad side wings appeared on the resonance curves caused by grating-coupling in case of appropriate rotation angle and sufficiently large modulation depth of the grating's grooves, according to our calculations. The coupling on deep gratings developed on bimetallic films containing the thinnest gold layer and on monometallic silver films resulted in separated secondary resonance minimum development. The periodic adherence of native streptavidin on the metallic gratings was detected by tapping mode AFM, and based on the shift of the secondary resonance peak.     

Vaporization and Plasma Shielding during High Power Nanosecond Laser Ablation of Silicon and Nickel

A thermal model to describe the high-power nanosecond pulsed laser ablation is presented. It involves the vaporization and the following plasma shielding effect on the whole ablation process. As an example of Si target, we obtainthe time evolution of the calculated surface temperature, ablation rate and ablation depth. It can be seen that plasma shielding plays a more important role in the ablation process with time. At the same time, the ablation depth with laser fluence based on different models is shown. Moreover, we simulate the pulsed laser irradiation Ni target. The evolution of the transmitted intensity and the variation of ablation depth per pulse with laser fluence are performed. Under the same experimental conditions, the numerical results calculated with our thermal model are more in agreement with the experimental data.