8,539 research outputs found
Entropy Determination of Single-Phase High Entropy Alloys with Different Crystal Structures over a Wide Temperature Range
We determined the entropy of high entropy alloys by investigating single-crystalline nickel and five high entropy alloys: two fcc-alloys, two bcc-alloys and one hcp-alloy. Since the configurational entropy of these single-phase alloys differs from alloys using a base element, it is important to quantify the entropy. Using differential scanning calorimetry, cp-measurements are carried out from −170 °C to the materials’ solidus temperatures TS. From these experiments, we determined the thermal entropy and compared it to the configurational entropy for each of the studied alloys. We applied the rule of mixture to predict molar heat capacities of the alloys at room temperature, which were in good agreement with the Dulong-Petit law. The molar heat capacity of the studied alloys was about three times the universal gas constant, hence the thermal entropy was the major contribution to total entropy. The configurational entropy, due to the chemical composition and number of components, contributes less on the absolute scale. Thermal entropy has approximately equal values for all alloys tested by DSC, while the crystal structure shows a small effect in their order. Finally, the contributions of entropy and enthalpy to the Gibbs free energy was calculated and examined and it was found that the stabilization of the solid solution phase in high entropy alloys was mostly caused by increased configurational entropy
The Effect of Lattice Vibrations on Substitutional Alloy Thermodynamics
A longstanding limitation of first-principles calculations of substitutional
alloy phase diagrams is the difficulty to account for lattice vibrations. A
survey of the theoretical and experimental literature seeking to quantify the
impact of lattice vibrations on phase stability indicates that this effect can
be substantial. Typical vibrational entropy differences between phases are of
the order of 0.1 to 0.2 k_B/atom, which is comparable to the typical values of
configurational entropy differences in binary alloys (at most 0.693 k_B/atom).
This paper describes the basic formalism underlying ab initio phase diagram
calculations, along with the generalization required to account for lattice
vibrations. We overview the various techniques allowing the theoretical
calculation and the experimental determination of phonon dispersion curves and
related thermodynamic quantities, such as vibrational entropy or free energy. A
clear picture of the origin of vibrational entropy differences between phases
in an alloy system is presented that goes beyond the traditional bond counting
and volume change arguments. Vibrational entropy change can be attributed to
the changes in chemical bond stiffness associated with the changes in bond
length that take place during a phase transformation. This so-called ``bond
stiffness vs. bond length'' interpretation both summarizes the key phenomenon
driving vibrational entropy changes and provides a practical tool to model
them.Comment: Submitted to Reviews of Modern Physics 44 pages, 6 figure
Automated computation of materials properties
Materials informatics offers a promising pathway towards rational materials
design, replacing the current trial-and-error approach and accelerating the
development of new functional materials. Through the use of sophisticated data
analysis techniques, underlying property trends can be identified, facilitating
the formulation of new design rules. Such methods require large sets of
consistently generated, programmatically accessible materials data.
Computational materials design frameworks using standardized parameter sets are
the ideal tools for producing such data. This work reviews the state-of-the-art
in computational materials design, with a focus on these automated
frameworks. Features such as structural prototyping and
automated error correction that enable rapid generation of large datasets are
discussed, and the way in which integrated workflows can simplify the
calculation of complex properties, such as thermal conductivity and mechanical
stability, is demonstrated. The organization of large datasets composed of
calculations, and the tools that render them
programmatically accessible for use in statistical learning applications, are
also described. Finally, recent advances in leveraging existing data to predict
novel functional materials, such as entropy stabilized ceramics, bulk metallic
glasses, thermoelectrics, superalloys, and magnets, are surveyed.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, chapter in a boo
Ab-initio simulation and experimental validation of beta-titanium alloys
In this progress report we present a new approach to the ab-initio guided
bottom up design of beta-Ti alloys for biomedical applications using a quantum
mechanical simulation method in conjunction with experiments. Parameter-free
density functional theory calculations are used to provide theoretical guidance
in selecting and optimizing Ti-based alloys with respect to three constraints:
(i) the use of non-toxic alloy elements; (ii) the stabilization of the body
centered cubic beta phase at room temperature; (iii) the reduction of the
elastic stiffness compared to existing Ti-based alloys. Following the
theoretical predictions, the alloys of interest are cast and characterized with
respect to their crystallographic structure, microstructure, texture, and
elastic stiffness. Due to the complexity of the ab initio calculations, the
simulations have been focused on a set of binary systems of Ti with two
different high melting bcc metals, namely, Nb and Mo. Various levels of model
approximations to describe mechanical and thermodynamic properties are tested
and critically evaluated. The experiments are conducted both, on some of the
binary alloys and on two more complex engineering alloy variants, namely,
Ti-35wt.%Nb-7wt.%Zr-5wt.%Ta and a Ti-20wt.%Mo-7wt.%Zr-5wt.%Ta.Comment: 23 pages, progress report on ab initio alloy desig
Mechanistic origin of high retained strength in refractory BCC high entropy alloys up to 1900K
The body centered cubic (BCC) high entropy alloys MoNbTaW and MoNbTaVW show
exceptional strength retention up to 1900K. The mechanistic origin of the
retained strength is unknown yet is crucial for finding the best alloys across
the immense space of BCC HEA compositions. Experiments on Nb-Mo, Fe-Si and
Ti-Zr-Nb alloys report decreased mobility of edge dislocations, motivating a
theory of strengthening of edge dislocations in BCC alloys. Unlike pure BCC
metals and dilute alloys that are controlled by screw dislocation motion at low
temperatures, the strength of BCC HEAs can be controlled by edge dislocations,
and especially at high temperatures, due to the barriers created for edge glide
through the random field of solutes. A parameter-free theory for edge motion in
BCC alloys qualitatively and quantitatively captures the strength versus
temperature for the MoNbTaW and MoNbTaVW alloys. A reduced analytic version of
the theory then enables screening over >600,000 compositions in the
Mo-Nb-Ta-V-W family, identifying promising new compositions with high retained
strength and/or reduced mass density. Overall, the theory reveals an unexpected
mechanism responsible for high temperature strength in BCC alloys and paves the
way for theory-guided design of stronger high entropy alloys.Comment: This version corrects the theory and provides more extensive
explanation
Origin and tuning of the magnetocaloric effect for the magnetic refrigerant MnFe(P1-xGex)
Neutron diffraction and magnetization measurements of the magneto refrigerant
Mn1+yFe1-yP1-xGex reveal that the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases
correspond to two very distinct crystal structures, with the magnetic entropy
change as a function of magnetic field or temperature being directly controlled
by the phase fraction of this first-order transition. By tuning the physical
properties of this system we have achieved a maximum magnetic entropy change
exceeding 74 J/Kg K for both increasing and decreasing field, more than twice
the value of the previous record.Comment: 6 Figures. One tabl
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