Johnson DD, Singh P, Smirnov AV, Argibay N. Universal Maximum Strength of Solid Metals and Alloys.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023;
130:166101. [PMID:
37154666 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.130.166101]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Interstitial electron density ρ_{o} is offered as a direct metric for maximum strength in metals, arising from universal properties derived from an electron gas. ρ_{o} sets the exchange-correlation parameter r_{s} in density-functional theory. It holds also for maximum shear strength τ_{max} in polycrystals [M. Chandross and N. Argibay, Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 125501 (2020)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.124.125501]. Elastic moduli and τ_{max} for polycrystalline (amorphous) metals are linear with ρ_{o} and melting T_{m} (glass-transition T_{g}) temperature. ρ_{o} or r_{s}, even with rule-of-mixture estimate, predicts relative strength for rapid, reliable selection of high-strength alloys with ductility, as confirmed for elements to steels to complex solid solutions, and validated experimentally.
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