Simulations of cubic-tetragonal ferroelastics

We study domain patterns in cubic-tetragonal ferroelastics by solving numerically equations of motion derived from a Landau model of the phase transition, including dissipative stresses. Our system sizes, of up to 256^3 points, are large enough to reveal many structures observed experimentally. Most patterns found at late stages in the relaxation are multiply banded; all three tetragonal variants appear, but inequivalently. Two of the variants form broad primary bands; the third intrudes into the others to form narrow secondary bands with the hosts. On colliding with walls between the primary variants, the third either terminates or forms a chevron. The multipy banded patterns, with the two domain sizes, the chevrons and the terminations, are seen in the microscopy of zirconia and other cubic-tetragonal ferroelastics. We examine also transient structures obtained much earlier in the relaxation; these show the above features and others also observed in experiment.Comment: 7 pages, 6 colour figures not embedded in text. Major revisions in conten

Diffusion-Induced Recrystallization in Nickel/Palladium Multilayers

Diffusion-Induced Recrystallization (DIR) is investigated in size mismatched thin film interdiffusion couples. New grains formed in the diffusion zone are characterized by distinctive composition levels which seem to be characteristic to the interdiffusing materials. In this paper, we analyzed sputter-deposited Ni/Pd films. The lattice mismatch and the driving force are varied by pre-alloying one side of the diffusion couples. Recrystallization was detected after heat treatment by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. We determined characteristic concentrations from XRD data. Remarkably, the difference between the concentration inside newly formed grains and that of the parent layers remains practically constant, when initial layer concentration is varied. Also, the characteristic compositions are nearly independent of temperature. A thermo-mechanic model has been derived, which demonstrates that the observed concentration differences are such that the stress in front of the moving grain boundary reaches a maximum close to the ideal strength of the host material.</jats:p