Thermal vacancies and positron-lifetime measurements in Fe76.3Al23.7

An Ab Initio Study of Vacancies in Disordered Magnetic Systems: A Case Study of Fe-Rich Fe-Al Phases

We have performed quantum-mechanical calculations to examine the impact of disorder on thermodynamic, structural and electronic (magnetic) properties of Fe-Al systems with vacancies. A series of supercells was used and their properties were computed employing density-functional theory (DFT) as implemented in the VASP package. Our case study is primarily aimed at a disordered solid solution Fe 81.25 Al 18.75 but we have compared our results also with those obtained for the ordered Fe 3 Al intermetallic compound for which experimental data exist in literature. Both phases are found in Fe-Al-based superalloys. The Fe-18.75at.%Al solid solution was simulated using special quasirandom structures (SQS) in three different disordered states with a different distribution of Al atoms. In particular, we have considered a general disordered case (an A2-like variant), the case without the first nearest neighbor Al-Al pairs (a B2-like distribution of atoms) and also the case without both the first and second nearest neighbor Al-Al pairs (the D0 3 -like variant, in fact, an Fe-rich Fe 3 Al phase). The vacancy formation energies as well as the volumes of (fully relaxed) supercells with vacancies showed a large scatter for the disordered systems. The vacancy formation energies decrease with increasing concentration of Al atoms in the first coordination shell around the vacancy (an anti-correlation) for all disordered cases studied. The computed volumes of vacancies were found significantly lower (by 25-60%) when compared with the equilibrium volume of the missing atoms in their elemental states. Lastly, we have analyzed interactions between the vacancies and the Fe atoms and evaluated vacancy-induced changes in local magnetic moments of Fe atoms.

Defect Creation in the Root of Single-Crystalline Turbine Blades Made of Ni-Based Superalloy

An analysis of the defects in the vicinity of the selector–root connection plane occurring during the creation of single-crystalline turbine blades made of CMSX-6 Ni-based superalloy was performed. X-ray diffraction topography, scanning electron microscopy, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy were used. Comparing the area of undisturbed axial growth of dendrites to the area of lateral growth concluded that the low-angle boundaries-like (LAB-like) defects were created in the root as a result of unsteady-state lateral growth of some secondary dendrite arms in layers of the root located directly at the selector–root connection plane. Additional macroscopic low-angle boundaries (LABs) with higher misorientation angles were created as a result of concave curvatures of liquidus isotherm in platform-like regions near selector–root connections. Two kinds of vacancy-type defects, mono-vacancies and vacancy clusters, were determined in relation to the LABs and LAB-like defects. Only mono-vacancies appeared in the areas of undisturbed axial growth. Reasons for the creation of macroscopic LABs and LAB-like defects, and their relationships with vacancy-type defects were discussed.

Self-Diffusion, Solute-Diffusion and Interdiffusion in Binary Intermetallics

800x600 Intermetallics are compounds of two metals or of metal(s) and semimetal(s). Their structures are usually different from those of the constituents. Some intermetallics are interesting functional materials, others have attracted attention as high-temperature structural materials. We remind the reader of some fundamentals of solid-state diffusion and to the major techniques for tracer diffusion measurements, interdiffusion studies and the growth kinetics of layers in solid diffusion couples. Starting from self-diffusion, which is the most basic diffusion phenomenon in any solid, the paper covers the main features of diffusion in binary intermetallics from the systems Cu-Zn, Ni-Al, Fe-Al, Mg-Al, Ni-Ge, Ni-Ga, Fe-Si, Ti-Al, Ni-Mn, Mo-Si, Co-Nb and Ni-Nb.. We illustrate the influence of phase transitions on diffusion and point out some common features of diffusion in intermetallics. We discuss in detail diffusion in silicides of iron, molybdenum and of silicides of refractory metals. We also consider aluminides of iron, nickel, and titanium and in the aluminium-magnesium system. We consider diffusion in intermetallics of the cobalt-niobium and nickel-niobium system and in in the Nb-Sn and V-Ga systems. We finish with some remarks about grain boundary diffusion in intermetallics. Normal 0 21 false false false UK X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}