Crystalline damage growth during martensitic phase transformations

A thermomechanical model is developed within a large deformation setting in order to simulate the interactions between martensitic phase transformations and crystalline damage growth at the austenitic grain level. Subgrain information is included in the model via the crystallographic theory of martensitic transformations. The damage and transformation characteristics are dependent of the specific martensitic transformation systems activated during a loading process, which makes the model strongly anisotropic. The state of transformation for the individual transformation systems is represented by the corresponding volume fractions. The state of damage in the austenite and in the martensitic transformation systems is reflected by the corresponding damaged volume fractions. The thermodynamical forces energetically conjugated to the rate of volume fraction and the rate of damaged volume fraction are the driving forces for transformation and crystalline damage, respectively. The expressions for these driving forces follow after constructing the specific form of the Helmholtz energy for a phase-changing, damaging material. The model is used to analyze several three-dimensional boundary value problems that are representative of microstructures appearing in multiphase carbon steels containing retained austenite. The analyses show that the incorporation of damage in the model effectively limits the elastic stresses developing in the martensitic product phase, where the maximum value of the stress strongly depends on the toughness of the martensite. Furthermore, in an aggregate of randomly oriented grains of retained austenite embedded in a ferritic matrix the generation of crystalline damage delays the phase transformation process, and may arrest it if the martensitic product phase is sufficiently brittle. The response characteristics computed with the phase-changing damage model are confirmed by experimental results.     

X-ray detectors based on CdZnTe crystals grown from the vapor phase

X-ray detectors on the basis of vapor-phase-grown Cd_0.92Zn_0.08Te crystals are fabricated. The main characteristics of the detectors are investigated. It is shown that vapor-phase-grown CdZnTe crystals can be successfully used for making X-ray detectors.     

Surface morphologies of anthracene single crystals grown from vapor phase

The morphologies and lattice structures of anthracene single crystals grown from the vapor phase were investigated using optical microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction analysis. Common morphologies with hexagonal large planes were observed irrespective of crystal size. The observation of certain surface morphologies with a phase contrast microscopy revealed that the spiral steps originated from screw dislocations present on the (0 0 1) planes. Moreover, the center and edge of the (0 0 1) planes had large curvatures, similar to hills. Resultantly, quarter-monolayer (ML) steps were observed on the large and flat planes between both hills.     

Phase transformations in PbI2 crystals with temperature

A systematic study of phase transformation with temperature has been undertaken in single crystals of lead iodide grown in gel. The crystals of the polytype 2H, which is known to be the common modification of PbI₂ at room temperature, have been finally found to transform into polytype 12R after heating at 150°C. During the intermediate period of heating the crystals show features of disorder, viz. streaking or arcing or both, on their X-ray diffraction photographs. The higher polytypes 12H and 16H do not show any change even after prolonged heating at 150°C. If silver iodide is added in a minute quantity during crystallization, the process of phase transformation is appreciably altered. The results have been discussed.     

A double-temperature-gradient technique for the growth of single-crystal fullerites from the vapor phase

Fullerite single crystals were prepared by a sublimation-condensation method in a closed evacuated glass tube situated in a double-temperature-gradient furnace. Crystals of various size and up to 9 mg weight with well expressed smooth and shiny faces were obtained. X-ray analysis, interfacial angle measurements and observed morphological habits of selected crystals of C₆₀ confirm the theoretically predicted and experimentally well established fcc structure at room temperature with two types of morphological faces, namely {111} and {100}. A strong tendency to twinning was observed. In the case of C₇₀ crystals, a pure fcc structure was observed. Information on growth kinetics and on instability versus exposure to air and light were obtained from surface studies. Characteristic changes in a thin surface layer were observed when crystals were exposed to air and light. A new phase of C₆₀ stabilized by oxygen was characterized.     

Modeling of the surface nucleation and growth on active centers from the vapor phase

The formation of nuclei of a new phase and their growth on the inhomogeneous substrate from a vapor phase are studied. Basic kinetic equations describing such a process are solved numerically. The effect of the depletion of active sites during the growth of nuclei is taken into account. Basic characteristics of the nucleation process, such as size distribution function, nucleation rate and number of nuclei formed on the unit surface are determined. It is shown that the size distribution of nuclei evolves by a nontrivial way as a function of time. This process is fully nonstationary from the viewpoint of nucleation rate. The total number of nuclei reaches the number of active centers for a sufficiently long time. Presented at the VIII-th Symposium on Surface Physics, Třešt’ Castle, Czech Republic, June 28 – July 2, 1999. This work was supported by Grant No. 202/99/0403 of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic.     

Influence of polytypism on structural phase transformations in TlGaSe2 crystals

The polytypism is found to have a significant influence on the structural transformation of the crystal lattice of the TlGaSe₂ ferroelectric with variations in temperature. In the 2C-polytype, unlike the C-polytype, a first-order structural phase transition, which leads to a change in the translational symmetry along the C axis, is not observed in the temperature range T = 90–300 K and a second-order phase transition due to the formation of an incommensurate phase occurs at a higher temperature.     

Helium implantation by He+-bombardment of titanium during deposition from the vapor phase

Abstract

Photoluniinescence of Solutions. C. A. Parker, American Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1968. $30.00

The Radiation Belt and Magnetosphere. Wilmot N. Hess, Blaisdell Publishing Company, New York, 1968, 548 pages. $16.50

Radiation Dosimetry. F. H. Attix and W. C. Roesch Academic Press, New York Vol. I, 1968, 405 pages. $19.50 Vol. 11, 1966,462 pages. $20.00

Radiation Effects in Semiconductor Devices. F. Larin, John Wiley &; Sons, New York, 1968,287 pages. $11.95     

Phase coexistence of cluster crystals: beyond the Gibbs phase rule

We report a study of the phase behavior of multiple-occupancy crystals through simulation. We argue that in order to reproduce the equilibrium behavior of such crystals, it is essential to treat the number of lattice sites as a constraining thermodynamic variable. The resulting free-energy calculations thus differ considerably from schemes used for single-occupancy lattices. Using our approach, we obtain the phase diagram and the bulk modulus for a generalized exponential model that forms cluster crystals at high densities. We compare the simulation results with existing theoretical predictions. We also identify two types of density fluctuations that can lead to two sound modes and evaluate the corresponding elastic constants.     

Modeling of laser reflectance evolution during metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy growth of GaN using SiN treatment

We present the simulation of laser reflectance measurements performed during GaN growth by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). We used the scattering theory approximation to determine the root mean square (rms) surface roughness versus growth time. In the region of large roughness, the determined rms roughness exceeds the maximum value authorized by the Rayleigh criterion limiting the validity of the macroscopic roughness model. Another approach based on the effective medium approximation is used to simulate the entire reflectance signal evolution. An effective refractive index and growth rate profiles are determined.     

Phase transformations in the material of a polyacrylonitrile filament during thermomechanical treatment

The changes in the phase composition, the average coherent-scattering domain (CSD) sizes, and the texture of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) filament during thermomechanical treatment are studied by X-ray diffraction. At the initial stage of treatment, the CSD sizes and the filament material texture increase. An increase in the tensile load improves the texture. The phase transformation of the structure of a PAN filament into the structure of a thermostabilized fiber proceeds via the formation of a new fine ∼1-nm phase in local microvolumes. An increase in the number of such local microvolumes is accompanied by gradual fragmentation of CSDs and a break in the texture of noninteracting polyacrylonitrile.     

Pressure-induced phase transformations in l-alanine crystals

Raman scattering and synchrotron X-ray diffraction have been used to investigate the high-pressure behavior of l-alanine. This study has confirmed a structural phase transition observed by Raman scattering at 2.3 GPa and identified it as a change from orthorhombic to tetragonal structure. Another phase transformation from tetragonal to monoclinic structure has been observed at about 9 GPa. From the equation of state, the zero-pressure bulk modulus and its pressure derivative have been determined as (31.5±1.4) GPa and 4.4±0.4, respectively.     

Dissipative processes during the nonequilibrium phase transformations in martensitic thermoelastic alloys

Martensitic thermoelastic transformations are considered under nonequilibrium conditions, where a system nonmonotonically tends toward a stationary process. The specific features of a phase transformation are experimentally studied on molecular models under these nonequilibrium conditions. A resonance mode of the phase transformation, which can increase the process rate by an order of magnitude without increasing the heat source temperature, is found. The dissipative processes that occur under the monotonic and resonance conditions of martensitic thermoelastic transformations are estimated. The resonance mode is shown to be accompanied by negative entropy production and to demonstrate the self-organization of the system. These results can be used to design materials and techniques for the processing of low-potential heat sources.     

Phase coexistence during surface phase transitions

In contrast to standard thermodynamic models, we observe phase coexistence over an extended temperature range at a first-order surface phase transition. We have measured the domain evolution of the Si(111)-( 7x7) to ( 1x1) phase transition with temperature, using low-energy electron microscopy. Comparison with detailed, quantitative theoretical predictions shows that coexistence is due to long-range elastic and electrostatic domain interactions. Phase coexistence is predicted to be a universal feature of surface phase transitions.     

Phase transformations in calcite from electrical impedance measurements

The phase transformation in calcite I-IV-V and calcite ? aragonite have been characterized by electrical impedance measurements at temperatures 600–1200°C and pressures 0.5–2.5?GPa in a piston cylinder apparatus. The bulk conductivity σ has been measured from Argand plots in the frequency range 10⁵–10^?2?Hz in an electric cell representing a coaxial cylindrical capacitor. The synthetic polycrystalline powder of CaCO₃ and natural crystals of calcite were used as starting materials. The transformation temperature T_c was identified from resistivity-temperature curves as a kink point of the activation energy. At pressure above 2?GPa in ordered phase calcite I, the activation energy E _σ is c. 1.05?eV, and in disordered phase calcite V E _σ is c. 0.75?eV. The pressure dependence of T_c for the rotational order–disorder transformation in calcite is positive for pressures <1?GPa and negative for pressures >1?GPa. The transformation boundary of calcite 1–IV is observed only during first heating in samples after a long annealing at low temperatures. The activation energy of calcite I???IV decreases gradually from 1.8 to 1.05?eV with the pressure increase from 0.5 to 2?GPa. The kinetics of calcite ? aragonite transformation has been monitored by measuring a time-variation of the electrical resistance of a calcite sample at 10³?Hz in the stability P-T field of aragonite. The variation of the impedance correlates with the degree of phase transformation, estimated from X-ray powder diffraction studies on quenched products of experiments. The kinetics of calcite ? aragonite transformation may be fitted to the Avrami kinetics with the exponent m???1–1.5.     

Formation and growth of an α-PbF2 phase during the plastic deformation of β-PbF2 crystals

The microstructure of strained β-PbF₂ crystals is investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. It is established that the α-PbF₂ previously observed by x-ray diffraction methods during the straining of cubic PbF₂ nucleates predominantly on structural defects like slip lines and bands. The kinetics of the growth of α-PbF₂ particles during the straining of β-PbF₂ crystals and during a postdeformation anneal is investigated. The results of the experiments point to the involvement of diffusion in the growth of α-PbF₂. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 640–646 (April 1997)     

Nucleation of crystals from their liquid phase

Liquids can be supercooled below their melting temperature T_m or pressurized above their melting pressure P_m. Many authors relate the maximum degree of supercooling—or overpressurization—to a value of the liquid–solid interfacial tension by using the standard theory of nucleation. The main goal of this review is to examine whether this relation is justified or not. We consider general arguments and two main examples: liquid helium which is simple and pure, consequently a model system, and liquid water which is complex but ubiquitous. To cite this article: S. Balibar, F. Caupin, C. R. Physique 7 (2006).     

X-ray topography of polydiacetylene single crystals prepared by using physical vapor growth technique

The lattice defects in polydiacetylene (PDA) single crystals prepared using physical vapor growth were investigated by white beam X-ray topography. Line patterns along the [0 0 1] and [1 0 2] directions were clearly observed. Appearance of the line patterns along the [0 0 1] direction proves the polymerization direction predicted by Hädicke et al. The topographic results are in good agreement with the surface morphologies investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM).     

Shape controllable synthesis of ZnO nanorod arrays via vapor phase growth

ZnO nanorod arrays with peculiar morphologies were synthesized on (111)-oriented Si substrate and glass via a vapor phase growth. The morphology of the individual nanorod can be flat-headed bottle-like, and needle-like, which depends on the deposition positions relative to the source materials in the presence of a controlling element Se. In addition, the arrays of all the three morphologies exhibit good alignment and high coverage. This fabrication technique can be also used to direct the controllable growth of other nanomaterials with similar morphologies.