Shape recovery mechanism observed in single crystals of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy

Micromechanism of the shape recovery process is optically observed in single crystals of the Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy. Formation of X and λ-interfaces (interfacial microstructures with two intersecting habit planes) is documented, both in a thermal gradient and during a homogeneous heating. The observed growth mechanisms (i.e. mechanisms of nucleation and growth of the twinned structures) are described and analysed. Weakly non-classical boundaries between austenite and two crossing twinning systems are also documented.     

Decagonal quasicrystal in the Al–Pd–Mn system

Abstract

A stable decagonal quasicrystal in Al₇₀Pd_30?xMn_x alloys (x = 10–20) was examined by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The decagonal quasicrystalline grains are formed with definite crystallographic relationships to adjacent icosahedral and Al₃Mn crystalline grains. The structure of the decagonal phase, which is formed as the main phase at near Al₇₀Pd₁₀Mn₂₀ composition, is a mixture of decagonal quasicrystalline regions with some linear phason strain and microcrystalline regions. The structures of both regions may be interpreted in terms of quasiperiodic and periodic tilings, constructed with two types of bond lengths, S (about 2 nm) and L (= τ · S, where τ is the Golden ratio), of the same atom cluster with decagonal symmetry.     

Defect structure near grain boundaries in deformed polycrystalline Cu–Al alloys

The evolution of defect structure upon the deformation of Cu–Al polycrystalline solid solutions with grain sizes of 10, 100, and 200 μm is studied by means of transmission diffraction electron microscopy. Alloys are deformed by tension at a rate of 10^?2 s^?1 at room temperature. Different parameters that characterize defect structure are measured. Patterns of changes in them are revealed upon moving away from grain boundaries. Analysis of the results testifies to the presence of a reinforced zone near the grain boundaries.     

Non-classical austenite-martensite interfaces observed in single crystals of Cu–Al–Ni

Interfaces between austenite and a crossing-twins microstructure consisting of four variants of 2H-martensite are optically observed in a single crystal of Cu–Al–Ni shape memory alloy. It is shown that these non-classical interfaces form during thermally induced transitions from compound twinned 2H-martensite into austenite, which is in agreement with theoretical predictions. Individual twinning systems and martensitic variants involved in the observed microstructure are identified. The corresponding volume fractions are estimated based on the compatibility conditions at the habit plane and the macroscopic geometry of the interface. Miscellaneous topics related to the observed microstructures (formation mechanism and planeness of the interface) are briefly discussed.     

Microstructural evolution in Al–Mn–Cu–(Be) alloys

This study investigates the effects of alloying elements on the microstructural evolution of Al-rich Al–Mn–Cu–(Be) alloys during solidification, and subsequent heating and annealing. The samples were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. In the ternary Al₉₄Mn₃Cu₃ (at%) alloy, the phases formed during slower cooling (≈1?K?s^?1) can be predicted by the known Al–Mn–Cu phase diagram. The addition of Be prevented the formation of Al₆Mn, decreased the fraction of τ₁-Al₂₉Mn₆Cu₄, and increased the fraction of Al₄Mn. During faster cooling (≈1000?K?s^?1), Al₄Mn predominantly formed in the ternary alloy, whereas, in the quaternary alloys, the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase dominated. Further heating and annealing of the alloys caused an increase in the volume fractions of τ₁ in all alloys and Be₄Al (Mn,Cu) in quaternary alloys, while fractions of all other intermetallic phases decreased. Solidification with a moderate cooling rate (≈1000?K?s^?1) caused considerable strengthening, which was reduced by annealing for up to 25% in the quaternary alloys, while hardness remained almost the same in the ternary alloy.     

Three-dimensional constitutive equations for Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals

This paper presents a formulation of isothermal three-dimensional (3D) quasi-static magneto-mechanical constitutive equations and 3D magnetisation constitutive equations for tetragonal martensite Ni–Mn–Ga FSMA single crystals (c/a<1)$(c/a<1)$ with both ends restrained from twin-boundary motion. The formulated 3D constitutive equations model the 3D quasi-static magnetic fields as well as the coupling between uniaxial strains and stresses, and shear strains and stresses. The constitutive equations are compared with experimental results available in the literature and are found to correlate well with the experimental results, including magnetic field reversals. Both sets of 3D constitutive equations require only macroscopic parameters that are readily obtainable from magnetisation and mechanical stress–strain curves.     

Stability and stabilization of 2H martensite in Cu–Zn–Al single crystals

The stabilization of the 2H martensitic phase in Cu–Zn–Al single crystals with an electron concentration e/a?=?1.53 was investigated. This orthorhombic 2H martensite was first induced from the cubic β phase by the direct β?→?2H or the indirect β?→?18R?→?2H transformations. On loading the 2H martensite, a transition without hysteresis is observed at a stress which was denoted σ_T1. It was found that this stress is associated with a change in the behaviour of the 2H martensite. A high stabilization of the 2H martensite, around 300?K, is only obtained if an ageing is performed at a stress above σ_T1. Additionally, the stresses of the transformation to another martensitic phase, called 18R₂, were found to be constant when the value of σ_T1 is below the retransformation stress. The 2H martensite and its behaviour on ageing were studied by dilatometry, calorimetry, mechanical testing, optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Models accounting for the stabilization of the 2H martensite on ageing are proposed.     

Temperature dependence of twinning stress – Analogy between Cu–Ni–Al and Ni–Mn–Ga shape memory single crystals

Abstract

To obtain a direct non-magnetic analogy to Ni–Mn–Ga 10M martensite with highly mobile twin boundaries, we present the recalculation of twinning systems in Cu–Ni–Al martensite. In this approach, the twinning planes denoted as Type I, Type II and compound have similar orientations for both alloys (Ni–Mn–Ga and Cu–Ni–Al). In Cu–Ni–Al, compound twinning exhibits the twinning stress of 1 to 2 MPa comparable to twining stress of Ni–Mn–Ga. In contrast Type II twinning stress of Cu–Ni–Al is approximately 20 MPa, i.e. much higher than twinning stress for Type II in Ni–Mn–Ga (0.1 to 0.3 MPa). Similarly to Ni–Mn–Ga, the twinning stress of Type II in Cu–Ni–Al is temperature independent. Moreover, no temperature dependence was found also for compound twinning in Cu–Ni–Al.     

Al–Pd–Mn icosahedral quasicrystal: deformation mechanisms in the brittle domain

The extreme brittleness of Al–Pd–Mn quasi-crystalline alloys over a wide range of temperatures drastically restricts investigation of their plastic deformation mechanisms over a small high-temperature regime. Recently, plastic deformation of Al–Pd–Mn quasicrystal has been achieved in the brittle domain (20?≤?T?≤?690°C) using specific deformation devices, which combined a uniaxial compression deformation or a shear deformation with a hydrostatic pressure confinement (0.35–5?GPa). Results of these experimental techniques, which provide various deformation conditions giving rise to a range of Al–Pd–Mn plastic features in the brittle domain, are discussed. On this basis, we propose that low and intermediate temperature plastic properties of Al–Pd–Mn are controlled by non-planar dislocation core extensions specific to the non-periodic structure.     

Modeling the TDFD dissolution of Al–Fe–Mn–Si particles in an Al–4.5Zn–1Mg alloy

Dissolution of large particles in DC-cast 7xxx aluminum alloys is one of the primary objectives of the homogenization process. A mathematical model to describe and predict this complex thermodynamical and kinetical process is of great significance. In this paper, the details of a diffusion-limited dissolution model, based on the thinning, discontinuation and full dissolution (TDFD) mechanism, to predict the dissolution of the Al₁₇(Fe_3.2, Mn_0.8)Si₂ particles is described. The model is capable of predicting the volume fraction and thickness of the particles during homogenization at different temperatures and time intervals. The predicted results are in good agreement with measurements using quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) and quantitative field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (QSEM). The model predictions of the supersaturation parameter, interface position, interface movement rate of the planar surfaces and the cylindrical edges, and the effect of the occurrence of discontinuities on the dissolution extent are presented.     

Room temperature damping correlated to the microstructures in Cu–20.4Al–8.7Mn

The damping capacity of the shape memory alloy Cu–20.4Al–8.7Mn(at.%) at room temperature is investigated by an internal friction technique.Results indicate that the alloy exhibits higher damping capacity in the Martensitic condition than that in the austenitic condition due to the latter having lower intrinsic damping capacity and pinning effect coming from the precipitate particles.The maximum damping capacity is obtained in the coexistence condition of Martensite and austenite.The condition can be achieved when processing an isothermal ageing for the as-cast sample at temperatures of 100°C–150°C.Three possible mechanisms are considered to account for the maximum damping capacity.They are listed as much increased interfaces between twin boundaries,owing to the thinning of martensitic plates,martensitic transformation induced by the applied stress during internal friction measurements,phase transformation itself based on the coexistence of martensitic and austenitic phases with a macroscopic amount.However,the contribution of the first mechanism is predominant.     

Non-singular Brans–Dicke collapse in deformed phase space

We study the collapse process of a homogeneous perfect fluid (in FLRW background) with a barotropic equation of state in Brans–Dicke (BD) theory in the presence of phase space deformation effects. Such a deformation is introduced as a particular type of non-commutativity between phase space coordinates. For the commutative case, it has been shown in the literature (Scheel, 1995), that the dust collapse in BD theory leads to the formation of a spacetime singularity which is covered by an event horizon. In comparison to general relativity (GR), the authors concluded that the final state of black holes in BD theory is identical to the GR case but differs from GR during the dynamical evolution of the collapse process. However, the presence of non-commutative effects influences the dynamics of the collapse scenario and consequently a non-singular evolution is developed in the sense that a bounce emerges at a minimum radius, after which an expanding phase begins. Such a behavior is observed for positive values of the BD coupling parameter. For large positive values of the BD coupling parameter, when non-commutative effects are present, the dynamics of collapse process differs from the GR case. Finally, we show that for negative values of the BD coupling parameter, the singularity is replaced by an oscillatory bounce occurring at a finite time, with the frequency of oscillation and amplitude being damped at late times.     

Creep behaviour in a discontinuous SiC–Zn-22% Al composite

Creep experiments were conducted on Zn-22%?Al in which SiC particulates were introduced by variable co-deposition of multi-phase materials (VCM). The objective of the investigation is to determine the effect of SiC particulates on the creep behaviour in region I (the low-stress region) and region II (the intermediate-stress or superplastic region) of the sigmoidal plot between stress and strain rate, which was previously reported for the reinforcement-free Zn-22%?Al. The creep data show that the presence of SiC particulates has no effect on the sigmoidal trend between stress and strain rate; and that in region II, the stress exponent, n, and the activation energy for creep, Q, agree well with those reported for SiC-free grades of Zn-22%?Al; n?=?2.5 and Q?～?Q _gb, where Q _gb is energy for grain boundary diffusion in the alloy. However, the data indicate that the presence of the particulates results in narrowing region II and reducing maximum ductility. An analysis of the creep data reveals the presence of a threshold stress that depends strongly on temperature. The microstructural data inferred from an examination of the crept specimens by the means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggest that the origin of τ ₀ may be related to the interaction between moving dislocations and dispersion particles. These particles are introduced in the material as a result of processing the material by thermal spray and deposition.     

Triaxially deformed relativistic Hartree–Bogoliubov theory in Woods–Saxon basis

A triaxially deformed relativistic Hartree–Bogoliubov theory in the Woods–Saxon basis is developed with the aim of treating the triaxial deformation, pairing correlations and continuum in a unified way.In order to consider the triaxial deformation, the deformed potentials are expanded in terms of spherical harmonic functions in the coordinate space. In order to take the pairing correlations into account and treat the continuum properly, by using the Dirac Woods–Saxon basis, which has correct asy...     

Enhanced exchange bias in magnetron-sputtered Ni–Mn–Sb–Al ferromagnetic shape memory alloy thin films

In the present study, the influence of aluminium (Al) addition on the martensite-austenite phase transformation and exchange bias of Ni–Mn–Sb films have been investigated. Ni–Mn–Sb–Al films with different Al concentration (∼0–5.6%) were deposited by co-sputtering of Ni–Mn–Sb and Al targets. Experimental results revealed the decrease in martensitic transformation temperature with increasing Al content upto a certain extent (3.3%) beyond which martensitic transformation was suppressed. Paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition temperature (T_C) also decreased with increasing Al concentration. Ni₅₀Mn_36.3Sb_10.4Al_3.3 thin film showed significant improvement in exchange bias field as compared to pure Ni_50.3Mn_36.9Sb_12.8 thin film. This enhancement in the exchange bias field H_EB = 611 Oe at 10 K is attributed to the increase of AFM-FM interactions that result from the decrease of Mn–Mn distance due to the incorporation of Al atoms. This behaviour is an additional property of the FSMA thin films apart from various other multifunctional properties and therefore, is of technological importance for their applications in magnetic storage devices.     

Radiative electronic transitions in ZnTe∶Al,Ga, in crystals

We report the results of studies on the concentration dependence of the cathodoluminescence of ZnTe:Al, Ga, In crystals in the temperature range 4.2–300 K. A band with maximum at 2.2 eV and half-width of the order of 70 MeV and a band with maximum at 2.36 eV and half-width 1 MeV appear in ZnTe:Al crystals at 4.2 K. In the temperature range 40–70 K we detected the structure of the first band such that the separation of the maxima of the resolved bands corresponded to the energy of an LO phonon. A band with maximum at 1.8 eV was found to appear in ZnTe:Ga crystals at 4.2 K and a band with maximum at 1.9 eV appeared in ZnTe:In crystals at that temperature. The donor activation energies were determined to be 0.11, 0.30, and 0.25 eV, respectively, for aluminum, gallium, and indium.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 82–86, October, 1987.     

Ginzburg–Landau expansion in strongly disordered attractive Anderson–Hubbard model

We have studied disordering effects on the coefficients of Ginzburg–Landau expansion in powers of superconducting order parameter in the attractive Anderson–Hubbard model within the generalized DMFT+Σ approximation. We consider the wide region of attractive potentials U from the weak coupling region, where superconductivity is described by BCS model, to the strong coupling region, where the superconducting transition is related with Bose–Einstein condensation (ВЕС) of compact Cooper pairs formed at temperatures essentially larger than the temperature of superconducting transition, and a wide range of disorder—from weak to strong, where the system is in the vicinity of Anderson transition. In the case of semielliptic bare density of states, disorder’s influence upon the coefficients A and В of the square and the fourth power of the order parameter is universal for any value of electron correlation and is related only to the general disorder widening of the bare band (generalized Anderson theorem). Such universality is absent for the gradient term expansion coefficient C. In the usual theory of “dirty” superconductors, the С coefficient drops with the growth of disorder. In the limit of strong disorder in BCS limit, the coefficient С is very sensitive to the effects of Anderson localization, which lead to its further drop with disorder growth up to the region of the Anderson insulator. In the region of BCS–ВЕС crossover and in ВЕС limit, the coefficient С and all related physical properties are weakly dependent on disorder. In particular, this leads to relatively weak disorder dependence of both penetration depth and coherence lengths, as well as of related slope of the upper critical magnetic field at superconducting transition, in the region of very strong coupling.     

Precipitation and fracture behaviour of Fe–Mn–Ni–Al alloys

The effects of Al addition on the precipitation and fracture behaviour of Fe–Mn–Ni alloys were investigated. With the increasing of Al concentration, the matrix and grain boundary precipitates changed from L1₀ θ-MnNi to B2 Ni₂MnAl phase, which is coherent and in cube-to-cube orientation relationship with the α′-matrix. Due to the suppression of the θ-MnNi precipitates at prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs), the fracture mode changed from intergranular to transgranular cleavage fracture. Further addition of Al resulted in the discontinuous growth of Ni₂MnAl precipitates in the alloy containing 4.2?wt.% Al and fracture occurred by void growth and coalescence, i.e. by ductile dimple rupture. The transition of the fracture behaviour of the Fe–Mn–Ni–Al alloys is discussed in relation to the conversion of the precipitates and their discontinuous precipitation behaviour at PAGBs.