Electronic structure of the light-impurity (boron)-vacancy complex in iron

Effects of Re, W and Co on dislocation nucleation at the crack tip in the γ-phase of Ni-based single-crystal superalloys by atomistic simulation

The effects of Re, W and Co on dislocation nucleation at the crack tip in Ni have been studied by the molecular dynamics method. The results show that the activation energy of dislocation nucleation is lowered by the addition of Re, W and Co; moreover, the activation energy decreases when the alloying element increases from 1 at.% to 2 at.%. The energy landscapes of the atoms are studied to elucidate these effects. Quantification analyses of the bonding strength between Ni and X (X = Re, W or Co) reveal that strong bonding between Ni and X (X = Re, W or Co) in the dislocation nucleation process can suppress the cleavage process and enhance the ability of dislocation nucleation. The surface energy and unstable stacking fault energy are also calculated to understand the alloying effects on the dislocation nucleation process. The results imply that interaction between alloying elements and Ni atoms plays a role in promoting the dislocation nucleation process at the crack tip. The ability of Re, W and Co in improving the ductility of the Ni crack system is in the order W > Re > Co. The results could provide useful information in the design of Ni-based superalloys.

The effects of alloying elements Al and In on Ni-Mn-Ga shape memory alloys, from first principles

The electronic structures and formation energies of the Ni(9)Mn(4)Ga(3-x)Al(x) and Ni(9)Mn(4)Ga(3-x)In(x) alloys have been investigated using the first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave method based on density functional theory. The results show that both the austenite and martensite phases of Ni(9)Mn(4)Ga(3) alloy are stabilized by Al alloying, while they become unstable with In alloying. According to the partial density of states and structural energy analysis, different effects of Al and In alloying on the phase stability are mainly attributed to their chemical effects. The formation energy difference between the austenite and martensite phases decreases with Al or In alloying, correlating with the experimentally reported changes in martensitic transformation temperature. The shape factor plays an important role in the decrease of the formation energy difference.