Specific heat measurement of stable and metastable liquid Ti–Al alloys

The specific heats of liquid Ti–20at.%Al and Ti–51at.%Al alloys are determined to be 33.01±2.75 and 31.27±2.91 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ in the stable superheated and metastable undercooled states by using an electromagnetic levitation drop calorimeter. The experimental temperature ranges are 1733–2133 K and 1511–1948 K, and maximum undercoolings of 230 (0.12 T _L) and 242 K (0.14 T _L) are achieved, respectively. On the basis of the experimental results, the specific heat dependence on the composition is obtained for binary Ti–Al alloys.     

Thermodynamic and surface properties of Sb-Sn and In-Sn liquid alloys

The thermodynamic properties of Sb-Sn and In-Sn liquid alloys have been studied using the quasi-chemical model for compound forming binary alloys and that for simple regular alloys. The concentration fluctuation S _cc(0) and the Warren-Cowley short-range order parameter (α ₁) were determined for the whole concentration range at a temperature of 770 K. The surface tensions of these liquid alloys were determined for the whole concentration range by using energetics determined from thermodynamic calculations. In all calculations, In-Sn manifested properties very close to alloys of ideal mixing, while Sb-Sn showed properties that are asymmetric about equiatomic composition. Our results suggest that a weak complex of the form SbSn₂ could be present in the Sb-Sn alloy at a temperature of about 770 K.     

<Superscript>10</Superscript>B–<Superscript>11</Superscript>B isotope substitution and superconductivity in ZrB<Subscript>12</Subscript>

The specific heat of the ZrB₁₂ compound in the normal and superconducting states (T _C ≈ 6 K) has been studied in the 1.9–7 K temperature range for high-quality single crystals with different relative contents of boron isotopes. For Zr¹⁰B₁₂, Zr^natB₁₂, and Zr¹¹B₁₂ dodecaborides, the electron density of states and the electronphonon coupling constant, λ_e-ph ∼ 0.4, are found. The dependence of the thermodynamic and upper critical fields, as well as of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter (κ = 0.8–1.14) on temperature and isotope composition is determined. The results suggest the existence of the magnetic field induced phase transition at T* = 4–5 K, which is not related to the transition from type-I to type-II superconductivity. The possibilities of the existence of two-gap superconductivity and a structural phase transition at T* in zirconium dodecaboride are discussed.     

Interaction of both charge density waves in NbSe3 from interlayer tunneling experiments

An interlayer tunneling technique has been used for spectroscopy of charge density wave (CDW) energy gaps (Δ_1,2) in NbSe₃ subsequently opened at the Fermi surface on decreasing temperature at T _p1 = 145 K (CDW1) and at T _p2 = 60 K (CDW2). We found that the CDW2 formation is accompanied by an increase of the CDW1 gap below T _p2. The maximum enhancement of Δ₁, δΔ₁ is about 10%. The effect observed has been predicted theoretically as resulting from the joint phase locking of both CDWs with the underlying crystalline lattice below T _p2. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Role of magnetism in the formation of a short-range order in iron-silicon alloys

The formation of a short-range order in soft magnetic Fe-Si alloys depending on the annealing temperature has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. The B2-type short-range order has been observed in samples quenched from temperatures T > T _C (where T _C is the Curie temperature) with the content c _Si close to the boundary of the two-phase region. Annealing at temperatures T < T _C for the content c _Si ≥ 0.08 leads to an increase in the fraction of regions with the D0₃-type short-range order. The mechanism of the formation of the short-range order in Fe-Si solid solutions has been analyzed by the Monte Carlo simulation with the ab initio calculated interatomic interaction parameters. It has been shown that the energy of the effective Si-Si interaction in bcc iron strongly depends on the magnetic state of the matrix. As a result, the B2-type short-range order is formed at T > T _C and is fixed at quenching, whereas the D0₃-type shortrange order is equilibrium in the ferromagnetic state. The results reveal the decisive role of magnetism in the formation of the short-range order in Fe-Si alloys and allow the explanation of the observed structural features of the alloys depending on the composition and temperature.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of Cr-precipitate demixing in FeCr alloys

The mechanical properties of FeCr alloys rely heavily on atomic distribution and can be affected by phenomena such as Cr precipitation. While precipitation of FeCr alloys of various Cr concentrations has been studied before, dissolution of already existing Cr precipitates in FeCr alloys has not; this was the focus of this study. Our means of investigation was molecular dynamics computer simulation: we set up a number of configurations of FeCr alloys containing Cr precipitates of various sizes embedded in matrices of either pure Fe or with a 15% random Cr distribution, and examined their behaviour after thermal ageing at temperatures T ranging between 600 and 2000 K. The T range was selected so that it would include the (α+α^′)?α transition in the standard FeCr phase diagram. High-T results provide insight into the mechanisms that govern the dissolution: Cr precipitates dissolve by vacancy exchange, leading to a random distribution of Cr atoms in an Fe matrix, as the short-range order parameter shifts from a positive value (clustering) to zero (random atomic arrangement). Precipitates at low T were found to be stable, as were those at intermediate T (～1000 K), in agreement with previous experimental and simulation studies that challenge the standard phase diagram's reliability.     

Calculation of the phase diagram of the TiZr alloy and investigation of the tendency toward separation of the ω phase

The electronic, structural, and thermodynamic properties of the TiZr equiatomic alloy have been calculated in terms of the electron density functional theory and Debye-Grüneisen model. The calculated lattice parameters a and c/a agree well with experimental data for the α, ω, and β phases. It has been shown that the ω phase is stable at atmospheric pressure and low temperatures, and it remains energetically more favorable up to T = 600 K. In the temperature range 600 K < T < 900 K, the α phase becomes stable, and above 900 K, the β phase of the TiZr alloy is stable. The phase diagram constructed in this study agrees qualitatively with the available experimental data. A tendency toward separation of the TiZr equiatomic alloy in the ω phase has been analyzed. It has been demonstrated that, in the ground state, the TiZr equiatomic alloy in the ω phase exhibits a tendency toward ordering rather than toward phase separation.     

Phase transitions in the (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>NbOF<Subscript>5</Subscript> oxyfluoride

The thermal and dielectric properties of the (NH₄)₂NbOF₅ oxyfluoride have been investigated. It has been established that the structural phase transitions Cmc2₁ → C2 → Ia observed at the temperatures T ₁ = 258.0 K and T ₂ = 218.9 K exhibit a nonferroelectric nature. The hydrostatic pressure, which stabilizes the initial phase and destabilizes the low-temperature phase, hardly affects the temperature range of stability of the intermediate phase. The model of sequential ordering of the structural elements due to phase transitions has been analyzed using experimental data on the entropies of the phase transitions.     

Thermal conductivity of high-porosity biocarbon preforms of beech wood

This paper reports on measurements performed in the temperature range 5–300 K for the thermal conductivity κ and electrical resistivity ρ of high-porosity (cellular pores) biocarbon preforms prepared by pyrolysis (carbonization) of beech wood in an argon flow at carbonization temperatures of 1000 and 2400°C. X-ray structure analysis of the samples has been performed at 300 K. The samples have revealed the presence of nanocrystallites making up the carbon matrices of these biocarbon preforms. Their size has been determined. For samples prepared at T _carb = 1000 and 2400°C, the nanocrystallite sizes are found to be in the ranges 12–25 and 28–60 κ(T) are determined for the samples cut along and across the tree growth direction. The thermal conductivity κ increases with increasing carbonization temperature and nanocrystallite size in the carbon matrix of the sample. Thermal conductivity measurements conducted on samples of both types have revealed an unusual temperature dependence of the phonon thermal conductivity for amorphous materials. As the temperature increases from 5 to 300 K, it first increases in proportion to T, to transfer subsequently to ∼T ^1.5 scaling. The results obtained are analyzed.     

Pd-Si binary bulk metallic glass

Pd_80+x Si_20−x (x = 0, 1, and 2) binary metallic glasses with the diameter ranging from 7 to 8 mm were prepared by a combination of fluxing and water quenching or air cooling. Thermal analysis results show that with increasing Si content, the glass transition temperature T _g, the initial crystallization temperature T _x and the onset crystallization temperature T _p of Pd-Si binary glassy alloys increase. Moreover, the supercooled liquid region reaches 61 K. It indicates that Pd-Si binary alloys possess large glass forming ability, which can be greatly improved by fluxing treatment. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB613905) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 50671050 and 50431030)     

Critical behavior of electrical resistivity in amorphous Fe-Zr alloys

Electrical resistivity (ρ) of the amorphous (a-)Fe_100−c Zr _c (c=8.5, 9.5 and 10) alloys has been measured in the temperature range 77 to 300 K, which embraces the second-order magnetic phase transition at the Curie temperature point T _c. Analysis of the resistivity data particularly in the critical region reveals that these systems have a much wider range of critical region compared to other crystalline ferromagnetic materials. The value of T _c and specific heat critical exponent, α has the same values as those determined from our earlier magnetic measurements. The value of α for all the present investigated alloys are in close agreement with the values predicted for three-dimensional (3D) Heisenberg ferromagnet systems, which gives contradiction to the earlier results on similar alloys. It is observed from the analysis that the presence of quenched disorder does not have any influence on critical behavior.     

Structural,magnetic, and magnetothermal properties of the Tb<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>Dy<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Co<Subscript>2</Subscript> compound

A complex investigation of the structural, magnetic, and magnetothermal properties of the Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Co₂ compound synthesized with the use of high-purity rare-earth metals has been performed. The phase composition has been controlled using the X-ray structural analysis, and the topology of the alloy surface has been investigated using atomic-force microscopy. It has been established that the Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Co₂ compound is single-phase, while the samples selected for measurements possess a clearly pronounced texture. The magnetization has been measured using a vibrating-sample magnetometer in the fields up to 100 kOe in a temperature range from 4.2 to 200 K. The Curie temperature of the compound is 170 K. The data on the temperature dependence of heat capacity of Tb_0.3Dy_0.7Co₂ have been obtained. The magnetocaloric effect ΔT has been measured by a direct method in the fields up to 18 kOe applied both along and perpendicularly to the texture axis. The anisotropic behavior of the magnitude ΔT for this compound, which possesses the cubic structure, has been found. The maximum value of the magnetocaloric effect ΔT = 2.3 K (ΔH = 18 kOe) has been observed upon applying the magnetic field along the texture axis.     

Investigation of the temperature dependences of the electrical resistance of SmS single crystals at different pressures

The pressure-induced shift of impurity levels under hydrostatic pressure at T = 300 K (−9.6 meV/MPa) has been obtained from measurements of the temperature dependences of the electrical resistance of SmS single crystals at different pressures. The obtained value confirms the validity of the existing model of the semiconductor-metal phase transition in samarium monosulfide.     

Transport properties of antiferromagnetic fcc-iron alloys

A study is reported of the electrical resistance and thermopower of Fe_xNi_80−x Cr₂₀ fcc alloys within the 44⩽x⩽70 at. % range. It is shown that, at low temperatures, they typically exhibit minima in the temperature dependences of electrical resistance. The appearance of these anomalies is attributed to the formation of a gap in the conduction electron spectrum due to the onset of long-or short-range antiferromagnetic order in the alloys. The effect of magnetic field on the magnetic states appearing in frustrated antiferromagnetic alloys has been studied, and an H-T magnetic phase diagram constructed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 101–105 (January 1998)     

Near-ordering structural transitions in amorphous metal alloys

The temperature variations in the modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus) E and internal friction Q ⁻¹ of the amorphous metal alloys Ti₅₀Cu_50−x Ni_x (5⩽x⩽20) are studied at temperatures of 300–800 K. There is an anomalous increase in E(T) at temperatures above T _x (which varies from 440 to 525 K, depending on the composition). When the amount of nickel in the alloy is high (x>12 at. %), a small peak shows up in Q ⁻¹(T). These effects are related to structural transitions in near-ordering regions (clusters). A model for structural relaxation of near ordering in amorphous alloys is proposed on the basis of these experiments. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 389–392 (March 1998)     

Calculation of the solvus temperature of metastable phases in the Al-Mg-Si alloys

A procedure has been proposed for the self-consistent calculation of the solvus temperatures of metastable phase precipitates in Al-Mg-Si alloys and the specific energy of their interface with the aluminum matrix. The procedure is based on the results of experimental studies on the kinetics of formation of these precipitates during decomposition of supersaturated solid solutions of quenched Al-Mg-Si alloys, which were carried out by measuring the Young’s modulus and electrical resistivity. On the basis of the obtained set of solvus temperatures of the β″-phase, an empirical formula has been proposed for calculating this temperature as a function of the chemical composition of the initial solid solution.     

Anomalous change in the photoacoustic phase near superconducting transition in YBa2Cu3O7

Photoacoustic amplitude and phase measurements have been carried out near the superconducting transition temperature in the highT _csuperconductor YBa₂Cu₃O₇. In both the samples investigated, the photoacoustic phase undergoes an anomalous step-like decrease aroundT _c≈ 96 K and increases at lower temperatures. A clear temperature hysteresis for the phase change has been noticed. No anomalous variation has been observed in the amplitude values. Neither phase nor amplitude shows any anomaly in a non-superconducting sample of the same composition.     

Effect of Li doping on the critical temperature and glass formation in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system

A study has been made of the glass-forming ability, structure, and superconducting properties of Bi_2.2Sr_1.8Ca_1.05Cu_2.15Li_xO_y and Bi_2.2Sr_1.8Ca_1.05Cu_2.15−x Li_xO_y (x=0;0.3;0.5;0.7). The compounds were melted by rf at T=1300–1500 °C. Rapid quenching produces glassy alloys whose glass-forming ability is the highest when lithium is substituted for copper. Glass annealing at 700–800 °C results in the formation of the HTSC phase 2212 with a critical temperature of up to 91 K. In lithium-doped samples the HTSC phase forms at lower temperatures and shorter anneals and it depends on the cooling rate following the anneal. The composition and properties of the 2212 phase depend nonmonotonically on the anneal time. The lattice parameter C of the 2212 phase increases with increasing lithium content. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 18–21 (January 1999)     

Inelastic neutron scattering study of the specific features of the phase transitions in (NH4)2WO2F4

Oxyfluoride (NH₄)₂WO₂F₄ has been studied by the inelastic neutron scattering method over a wide temperature range 10–300 K at two initial neutron energies of 15 and 60 meV. The role of tetrahedral ammonium groups in the mechanism of sequential phase transitions at T ₁ = 201 K and T ₂ = 160 K has been discussed.     

Magnetic,electrical, magnetoelectrical,and magnetoelastic properties of La<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> manganites

This paper reports on a study of the influence of oxygen deficiency on the magnetization, paramagnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and volume magnetostriction of the La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO_{3 − y} manganite with y = 0.03, 0.10, and 0.15. The magnetization M(T) behaves in a complex way with temperature; for T < 80 K, it only weakly depends on T, and at 80 ≤ T ≤ 300 K, the M(T) curve shows a falloff. Within the interval 240 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K, the long-range magnetic order breaks up into superparamagnetic clusters. For T < 80 K, the magnetic moment per formula unit is about one-fourth that which should be expected for complete ferromagnetic alignment of Mn ion moments. Although the composition with y = 0.03, in which part of acceptor centers is compensated by donors (oxygen vacancies), the negative magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ and volume magnetostriction ω are observed to pass through maxima near the Curie point, their values are one to two orders of magnitude smaller than those for the y = 0 composition. In compositions with y = 0.10 and 0.15 with electronic doping, the values of Δρ/ρ and ω are smaller by one to two orders of magnitude than those observed for the y = 0.03 composition. They do not display giant magnetoresistance and volume magnetostriction effects, which evidences the absence of ferrons near unionized oxygen vacancies. This allows the conclusion that the part played by both compensated and uncompensated doubly charged donors consists in forming dangling Mn-O-Mn bonds, which lead to a decrease in the Curie temperature with increasing y and to the formation above it of superparamagnetic clusters of the nonferron type.