Formation of the composition and topography of surface layers of Cu50Ni50 foils under laser irradiation

The influence of the laser radiation power density on the changes in the composition and mechanical properties of surface layers of Cu₅₀Ni₅₀ foils has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning probe microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microhardness measurements. It has been found that, after laser irradiation, the redistribution of elements occurs in the surface layer with a thickness of ～30 nm on the irradiated side of the foil. It has been revealed that there are microdistortions in the crystal lattice of the alloy, microdeformations of grains, and variations in the microhardness of the irradiated surface. The mechanisms explaining the observed changes in the foils after laser irradiation have been proposed.     

On segregation manifestations of the long-range effect during the ion implantation of rolled copper-nickel foils

Segregation manifestations of the long-range effect during the irradiation of rolled nonequilibrium Cu₈₀Ni₂₀ alloy foils with B⁺ ions are studied. The composition separation of Cu and Ni in the surface layers of the unirradiated side of the foil is revealed. This separation leads to the formation of the nonmonotonic concentration profiles of Ni and Cu. A phenomenological model for the formation of the chemical composition of the surface layers on the unirradiated side of the foil is proposed. It is based on the assumption of the simultaneous effects of the generation of elastic waves and changes in local mechanical stresses.     

Crystal structure and physical properties of magnetic shape memory alloys Ni50 − x Cu x Mn29Ga21

The phase composition, crystal structure, and physical properties (magnetization, electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, relative elongation, and thermal expansion coefficient) of the stoichiometric alloy Ni₅₀Mn₂₅Ga₂₅ and nonstoichiometric alloys Ni_{50 ? x} Cu _x Mn₂₉Ga₂₁ (x = 0, 1, 2) with the thermoelastic martensitic transformation have been investigated. The influence of the chemical composition on the transformations and physical properties of the alloys has been determined.     

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)     

FexNi100−x nanometric films deposited by laser ablation on SiO2/Si substrates

Fe_xNi_100−x nanometric films were deposited on SiO₂/Si substrates at room temperature using the pulsed laser deposition technique. The targets were Fe-Ni amorphous magnetic foils with composition Fe₅₀Ni₅₀, Fe₃₅Ni₆₅ and Fe₂₂Ni₇₈. Morphological and structural properties of the deposited films were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, and X-ray reflectivity. Electrical and magnetic characteristics of the films were investigated by using the four-point probe and the magneto-optic Kerr effect techniques, respectively. The film properties are strictly dependent on the Fe-Ni compositional ratio.     

Atomistic studies of the structure and composition of grain boundaries in Cu3Au and Ni3Al

In this paper we investigate the atomic structure and composition of grain boundaries in Cu₃Au (weakly ordered compound) and Ni₃Al (strongly ordered compound). Computer simulations employing both the molecular statics and Monte Carlo methods were performed and the Finnis-Sinclair type many-body central force potentials used. First, grain boundaries in stoichiometric alloys are studied with the goal to investigate the impact of ordering strength on the grain boundary structure and composition. In Cu₃Au grain boundaries may become compositionally disordered even at room temperature and the compositional disordering is associated with segregation of gold. In contrast, in Ni₃Al grain boundaries remain compositionally ordered up to very high temperatures. Secondly, the structures of grain boundaries and the effect of Ni and Al segregation in non-stoichiometric Ni₃Al are investigated. Nickel segregation leads to compositional disordering at grain boundaries, while aluminum segregation, which is strongly selective, leads to an ordered grain boundary structure with high Al content. The possible relationship between structural and compositional characteristics of grain boundaries and their mechanical properties, in particular the grain boundary brittleness and its alleviation by additional alloying, are then discussed in the light of the results of this study.     

Features of the surface layers of TiNi-based alloy thin ribbons

The chemical composition of the surface of TiNi-based alloys in the form of ribbons produced by rapid melt quenching in oxygen-containing environment has been investigated. It is shown that titanium oxide is formed on the Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ alloy surface, while on the Ti_39.2Ni_24.8Cu₂₅Hf₁₁ alloy surface titanium and hafnium oxides are formed. Atomic-force microscope images reveal crystalline structures of titanium oxide with sizes of up to 500 × 500 nm² on the surface of the Ti₅₀Ni₂₅Cu₂₅ sample. After removing the surface oxide layer by ion etching, the ratio of elements becomes close to the stoichiometric composition.     

Surface relief and structure of electroexplosive composite surface layers of the molybdenum-copper system

The surface topography and structure of copper layers exposed to multiphase plasma jets of products of electrical explosion of molybdenum and copper foils are studied using profilometry and scanning electron and light microscopy. Such treatment allows deposition of either layered coatings or alloyed composite layers. It is found that the surface layer roughness parameter is R _a = 3.2−4.0 μm. The thickness of some copper and molybdenum layers of coatings is 15–20 μm. Electroexplosive alloying produces layers 25 μm thick. Sizes of copper inclusions in the molybdenum matrix near the surface of such layers vary from 30 nm to 1–2 μm.     

Magnetoresistance in thin wires with granular structure

We report on studies of magnetotransport properties and structure at 5–300 K temperature region in glass-coated microwires prepared from immiscible (Co₁₀Cu₉₀ and Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅) elements. The crystalline structure consists of nanocrystals of Co (Ni) and Cu with average grain size below 30 nm. Considerable magnetoresistance (MR) (up to about 18%) is found in Co₁₀Cu₉₀ microwires depending on fabrication parameters. Magnetic field dependence of MR of Co₁₀Cu₉₀ microwires is completely un-hysteretic showing monotonic decay with magnetic field. On the other hand, MR (up to about 4%) is also found in as-prepared and annealed Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ microwires. Annealing of Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ microwires (973 K) results in increasing of the coercivity (H_c) from 65 up to 750 Oe. Annealed Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ sample exhibits considerable hysteresis on magnetic field dependence of MR. Neutron and X-ray diffraction allows to attribute changes in magnetic properties and MR after annealing of Co₂₉Ni₂₅Mn₁Cu₄₅ microwires to the decomposition of the metastable phase.     

Resistive transitions in Nb/Cu0.41Ni0.59/Nb trilayers

The superconducting phase transition in Nb/Cu_0.41Ni_0.59/Nb trilayers, with superconducting (S) Nb and ferromagnetic (F) Cu_0.41Ni_0.59, has been experimentally studied as a function of the F-layer thickness by measuring the temperature dependence of the electrical resistance R(T). It is shown that the shape and the width of the R(T) curves depends on the Cu_0.41Ni_0.59 thickness, in particular in the regime where π is the coupling between the S layers, which can be expected. To explain the data, we developed a qualitative model which makes the interconnection between the superconducting phase transition and the 0 to π transition in SFS structures are more evident. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Effect of N 2 + ion implantation on the oxidation behaviour of Fe50Ni50 alloy

The high temperature oxidation behavior of Fe₅₀Ni₅₀ alloy foils implanted with 100 KeV N₂ ⁺ ions at a different dose values is studied by using the technique of conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). It has been shown that the implanted foils exhibit considerable adherence of scales and higher oxidation resistance as compared to the virgin foils. This excessive adherence of scales to the surface and higher resistance to oxidation of implanted samples is attributed to nickel enrichment in the surface layers. Various oxides of Fe, Ni and Fe?Ni are identified from the hyperfine interaction parameters of the corresponding CEMS spectra and also from x-ray diffraction measurements.     

Multilevel interaction between layers in layered film structures

An analysis was carried out of the mechanism underlying magnetic interlayer interaction in film structures. The investigation was based on the assumption that interlayer bonding affects film hysteresis. This was based on experimental data on the coercive force, the domain structure parameters, and the microstructure of Fe₁₉Ni₈₁/Cr/Fe₁₉Ni₈₁ and Fe₁₅Co₂₀Ni₆₅/Cr/Fe₁₅Co₂₀Ni₆₅ films. Theoretical estimates show that, as the thickness of the Cr interlayer increases, the exchange interaction between the ferromagnetic layers can be replaced by the magnetostatic interaction whose effectiveness is determined by surface irregularities and layer ‘magnetization ripples’. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 2191–2194 (December 1997)     

Anisotropy of secondary ion emission from a Ni4Mo single crystal

The azimuthal and polar angle distribution of Ni⁺ and Mo⁺ ions emitted from an ordered Ni⁴ Mo single crystal irradiated with 10-keV Ar⁺ ions was studied. Different azimuthal distributions for Ni⁺ and Mo⁺ ions emitted from the (001) Ni₄Mo face were detected; emission maxima were observed in 〈 011 〉 and 〈 001 〉 directions for Ni⁺ and Mo⁺ ions, respectively. It was shown that polar distributions of nickel’s secondary ions vary with its energy. The observed systematic features were explained by correlated collisions in the upper layers of a Ni₄Mo single crystal.     

A thermodynamic lattice theory on melting curve and eutectic point of binary alloys. Application to fcc and bcc structure

A thermodynamic lattice theory has been developed for determination of the melting curves and eutectic points of binary alloys. Analytical expressions for the melting curves of binary alloys composed of constituent elements with the same structure have been derived from expressions for the ratio of root mean square fluctuation in atomic positions on the equilibrium lattice positions and the nearest neighbor distance. This melting curve provides information on Lindemann’s melting temperatures of binary alloys with respect to any proportion of constituent elements, as well as on their eutectic points. The theory has been applied to fcc and bcc structure. Numerical results for some binary alloys provide a good correspondence between the calculated and experimental phase diagrams, where the calculated results for Cu_1−x Ni _x agree well with the measured ones, and those for the other alloys are found to be in a reasonable agreement with experiment.     

Magnetic properties and magnetic entropy change in Heusler alloys Ni50Mn35?xCuxSn15

The influence of Cu substitution for Mn on magnetic properties and magnetic entropy change has been investigated in Heusler alloys, Ni₅₀Mn_35−x Cu _x Sn₁₅ (x=2,5 and 10). With increasing Cu content from x=2 to x=5, the martensitic transition temperature, T _M , decreases from 220 K to 120 K. Further increasing Cu up to x=10 results in the disappearance of T _M . For samples Ni₅₀Mn₃₃Cu₂Sn₁₅ and Ni₅₀Mn₃₀Cu₅Sn₁₅, both martensitic and austenitic states exhibit ferromagnetic characteristics, but the magnetization of martensitic phase is notably lower than that of austenitic phase. The magnetization difference, ΔM, across the martensitic transition leads to a considerably large Zeeman energy, μ ₀ΔM⋅H, which drives a field-induced metamagnetic transition. Associated with the metamagnetic behavior, a large positive magnetic entropy change ΔS takes place around T _M . For the sample Ni₅₀Mn₃₃Cu₂Sn₁₅,ΔS reaches 13.5 J/kg⋅K under a magnetic field change from 0 to 5 T.     

Nanocrystalline platinum layer deposited on NiTiCu shape memory strip

The Ni₂₅Ti₅₀Cu₂₅ shape memory strip was covered by thin nanocrystalline platinum layer. Structure of the layer was studied by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Transformation temperatures were determined using differential scanning calorymetry (DSC). The studies show that the layer reveals nanocrystalline structure with average crystalline size of 44 nm. Lattice distortion was relatively low –0.19%. Almost 25% of total grains are oriented along 〈111〉 direction. It was stated that the nanocrystalline platinum layer does not limit martensitic transformation in the covered strip, which reveals one step reversible martensitic transformation from the parent B2 phase to the orthorhombic martensite B19 phase. Also no influence of the layers on the shape recovery was noticed.     

Effect of severe plastic deformation by torsion on the properties and structure of the Ni54Mn21Ga25 and Ni54Mn20Fe1Ga25 alloys

The effect of one-percent substitution of iron for manganese on the physical (magnetic, electrical, thermal, and galvanomagnetic) properties and the crystal structure of the Ni₅₄Mn₂₁Ga₂₅ alloy has been investigated. It has been demonstrated that the deviation of the alloy composition from the stoichiometric composition Ni₅₀Mn₂₅Ga₂₅ leads to the formation of a mixed ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic state. The atomic disordering and nanostructuring of the alloys under investigation due to the severe plastic deformation by torsion in Bridgman anvils to sizes of 10–20 nm result in the suppression of reversible magnetically controlled shape memory effects.     

The structure and thermodynamics of binary microclusters: A Monte Carlo simulation

The Monte Carlo computer simulation technique of classical statistical mechanics is employed to determine the structure and thermodynamics of binary microclusters of Lennard-Jones atoms as a function of cluster size, composition and temperature. Further, amorphous microclusters are prepared by a Monte Carlo quench, and their structural properties are examined. The properties of interest include the internal energy, instantaneous “snapshot” pictures of the microcluster's atomic configuration, and the single-particle and pair distribution functions. The Lennard-Jones potential parameters are chosen to model Ar₁₃, Ar₇Kr₆, Ar₃₆Kr₁₉ and Ar₁₉Kr₃₆, as well as to crudely model the bimetallic clusters of Cu₁₉Ni₃₆, Cu₁₉Ru₃₆ and Cu₁₉Os₃₆. A large variety of interesting features associated with these systems are described.     

Structural characterization of InxGa1−xAs/Inp layers under different stresses

In_xGa_1−xAs layers on InP substrate can be subjected to compressive or tensile strain due to lattice parameter differences depending on the alloy composition. In order to examine in details the strain of InGaAs/InP epiatxial layers and its evolution after subjecting the layers to annealing at high pressure, X-ray synchrotron topography, high resolution X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy have been employed. The data show that the changes of structural properties of the InGaAs layers subjected to high temperature-high pressure treatment at 670 K-1.2 Gpa, strongly depend on initial strain state and defect structure. The annealing of samples under high pressure results in change of strain in tensile layers only. The behaviour of observed defects is discussed.