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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Crystal structure evolution of BaBrCl and BaBrCl:5%Eu up to 1073 K by neutron diffraction

BaBrCl:Eu is an encouraging scintillator material; however, the crystal growth yield must be improved for it to become commercially viable. This study measures strain accumulations in the crystal lattice which can contribute to cracking during post-growth cooling. Neutron diffraction is used to measure the crystal structure of undoped and 5 mol% europium-doped BaBrCl from 303 to 1073 K, approaching the melting point. Rietveld analysis of these data provides the temperature dependence of the thermal and chemical strain in BaBrCl. In particular, anisotropic thermal expansion is measured, with expansion along the b axis nearly double the expansion along the a and c axes. Furthermore, the chemical strain from the incorporation of europium atoms peaks around 673 K, explaining cracking frequently observed in that temperature range.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

High temperature neutron diffraction investigation of U 3 Si 2

The U-Si system is actively undergoing studies due to its promise as a component of an accident tolerant nuclear fuel. In this work, the crystal structure of the U 3 Si 2 compound in the U-Si system was investigated as a function of temperature from room temperature to 1298 K for a sample of approximately 42.02 at.% Si composition and 1373 K for a sample with approximately 42.10 at.% Si using high temperature time-of-flight neutron diffraction on the High-Pressure Preferred Orientation (HIPPO) diffractometer at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). The simultaneous Rietveld refinement of five histograms from the five HIPPO detector backs (40°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and 145°) provided datasets for the lattice parameters, anisotropic atomic displacement parameters, and atomic positions as a function of temperature. To explore the possibility of a homogeneity range, two sample compositions were analyzed, a 40.02 at.% Si (near stoichiometric) and a potentially hyperstoichiometric (40.10 at.% Si) sample. While minor differences in the anisotropic atomic displacement parameters between the two samples were observed, over the entire investigated temperature range no additional phases were found indicative of a single phase sample and the ability of the U 3 Si 2 compound to accommodate nonstoichiometry, suggesting that the U 3 Si 2 compound is not a line compound confirming previous determinations. However, the differences observed in the average coefficient of linear thermal expansion identified between the two compositions warrant future investigation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

An in situ neutron diffraction study of plastic deformation in a Cu 46.5 Zr 46.5 Al 7 bulk metallic glass composite

Micro-mechanical behaviors of a Cu 46.5 Zr 46.5 Al 7 bulk metallic glass composite in the plastic regime were investigated by continuous in situ neutron diffraction during compression. Three stages of the plastic deformation were observed according to the work-hardening rate. Here, the underlying natures of the work hardening, correlating with the lattice/microscopic strain evolution, are revealed for the three stages: (1) the initiation of shear bands, (2) the phase load transferring from the amorphous phase to the B2 phase and (3) the accelerated martensitic transformation and the work hardening of the polycrystalline phases promoted by the rapid propagation of the shear bands.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Neutron diffraction study of the formation kinetics of ordered antiphase domains in titanium carbohydride TiC{sub x}H{sub y}

The kinetics of formation and growth of ordered antiphase domains (APDs) in titanium carbohydride TiC{sub 0.50}H{sub 0.21} has been investigated by neutron diffraction. A model of ordered APDs is proposed. It is established that the pronounced ordering of interstitial atoms and APDs begin at 450°C. It is shown that the period of ordered APDs (P ≈ 10–12) is independent of the exposure time at a constant temperature. It is found that the temperature of ordered APDs, T{sub OAPD}, increases nonlinearly with an increase in the carbon concentration in the range 0.50 ≤ C/Ti ≤ 0.70. The formation temperature of ordered APDs is found to correlate with the concentration dependence of the order–disorder transition temperature and be 0.60 of the order–disorder transition temperature: T{sub APD} = 0.60Τ{sub C}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

Neutron diffraction study of the monoclinic to tetragonal structural transition in LaNbO{sub 4} and its relation to proton mobility

The fergusonite-scheelite structural transition of LaNbO{sub 4} was characterized by high-intensity variable temperature neutron powder diffraction in an effort to link structural changes to proton transport in the low temperature monoclinic and high temperature tetragonal polymorphs. The pronounced decrease in enthalpy of proton mobility with increasing temperature in monoclinic LaNbO{sub 4}, identified by Fjeld et al. , was found to coincide with the decrease in a key inter-tetrahedral oxygen separation. At temperatures above the transition, this oxygen to oxygen distance remains constant, behavior that is consistent with the invariant nature of the calculated enthalpy of mobility for the tetragonal phase. This oxygen separation is therefore proposed as the key structural parameter determining the success rate of proton transfer and ultimately the proton diffusion in LaNbO{sub 4}. Infrared measurements performed on acceptor-doped LaNbO{sub 4} show an absorption in the region 2500 to 3700 cm{sup -1} attributed to the O-H stretching motion influenced by hydrogen bonding. - Graphical Abstract: The structural phase transition from monoclinic fergusonite to tetragonal scheelite crystal structure clearly influences the proton conductivity of acceptor-doped LaNbO{sub 4} (see Figure). The present article attempts to explain why. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Transition from monoclinic to tetragonal structure studied using neutron diffraction. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Change in proton mobility linked to contraction of a key oxygen separation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Infra-red spectra reveal intermediate strength hydrogen bonding.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Unraveling magneto-structural coupling of Ni 2 MnGa alloy under the application of stress and magnetic field using in situ polarized neutron diffraction

The magneto-structural evolution of a Ni 2 MnGa single crystal was investigated by in situ polarized neutron diffraction under both magnetic field and mechanical loading. The ability to separate the nuclear and magnetic scatterings by polarized neutrons enables simultaneous observations of the twin reorientation (through twin boundary motion) and magnetic moment configuration. It is found that under a 1.0 T saturating magnetic field, twin reorientation can be activated by compressive stress and is accompanied by a realignment of the magnetic moment, which follows the easy axis of the twin variant. On the other hand, compressive stress as small as 1.0 MPa can freeze the twin reorientation. The evolution of the magnetic scattering amplitudes suggests that the change in magnetization was mainly achieved through the magnetic domain wall motion, while the twin boundary motion was blocked.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Method Development for High Temperature In-Situ Neutron Diffraction Measurements of Glass Crystallization on Cooling from Melt

A glass-ceramic borosilicate waste form is being considered for immobilization of waste streams of alkali, alkaline-earth, lanthanide, and transition metals generated by transuranic extraction for reprocessing used nuclear fuel. Waste forms are created by partial crystallization on cooling, primarily of oxyapatite and powellite phases. In-situ neutron diffraction experiments were performed to obtain detailed information about crystallization upon cooling from 1200°C. The combination of high temperatures and reactivity of borosilicate glass with typical containers used in neutron experiments, such as vanadium and niobium, prevented their use here. Thus, methods using sealed thick-walled silica ampoules were developed for the in-situ studies. Unexpectedly, high neutron absorption, low crystal fraction, and high silica container background made quantification difficult for these high temperature measurements. As a follow-up, proof-of-concept measurements were performed on different potential high-temperature container materials, emphasizing crystalline materials so that residual glass in the waste form sample could be more easily analyzed. Room temperature measurements were conducted with a pre-crystallized sample in ‘ideal’ containers stable at low temperatures (i.e., vanadium and thin-wall silica capillaries) and compared to the same measurements in containers stable at high temperatures (i.e, platinum, single crystal sapphire, and thick-walled silica ampoules). Results indicated that Pt is probably the best choice if suitably sealed to prevent contamination from the sample after neutron activation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Neutron diffraction study of the atomic structure of cubic sodium-tungsten bronze (Na{sub 0.69}WO{sub 3}) single crystal

The atomic structure of a single crystal of one of four Na{sub 0.69}WO{sub 3} phases, which exist below 293 K, has been refined from neutron diffraction data (WWR-c reactor at the Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry, Obninsk Branch; {lambda} = 1.168 Angstrom-Sign ; {lambda}/2 contribution < 0.8%; sin{theta}/{lambda} {<=} 0.810; T = 288 K; crystal sphere Empty-Set = 4.4 mm; cubic unit cell with a = 7.672 Angstrom-Sign , sp. gr. Im3, z = 8, {mu} = 1.9 mm{sup -1}). The Na{sub 0.69}WO{sub 3} atomic structure has been refined (198 independent reflections) taking into account the anisotropy of thermal vibrations (R{sub w} = 4.0%). The stoichiometric coefficient Na(0.69) is also refined. A structural distortion is revealed, which is characterized by the displacement of oxygen atoms (0, 0.2609(2), 0.2391(2)) from the ideal perovskite positions (0, 1/4, 1/4); this displacement doubles the ideal perovskite lattice period. The oxygen displacements can be described as rotations of oxygen octahedra by 3.58 Degree-Sign around the [111] direction. The structure remains cubic because the octahedra rotations with respect to all three perovskite cubic axes are identical.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

In-situ neutron diffraction investigation of two-stage martensitic transformation in a 13%Mn steel with serrated deformation

Two stage austenite →ε-martensite →α-martensite phase transformation, phase-specific lattice strain evolution and load sharing during tensile deformation of a 13%Mn hot-rolled austenitic steel are revealed by in-situ neutron diffraction. In conclusion, direct evidence is provided that serrated deformation behavior is attributed to discontinuous martensitic transformation.

Austenitic steel↗
DOE OSTI2015

Tetragonal magnetic phase in Ba 1 - x K x Fe 2 As 2 from x-ray and neutron diffraction

In this paper, combined neutron and x-ray diffraction experiments demonstrate the formation of a low-temperature minority magnetic tetragonal phase in Ba 0.76 K 0.24 Fe 2 As 2 in addition to the majority magnetic, orthorhombic phase. The coincident enhancement in the magnetic (1/2 1/2 1) peaks shows that this minority phase is of the same type that was observed in Ba 1-x Na x Fe 2 As 2 (0.24 ≤ x ≤ 0.28), in which the magnetic moments reorient along the c axis. This is evidence that the tetragonal magnetic phase is a universal feature of the hole-doped iron-based superconductors. Finally, the observations suggest that in this regime the energy levels of the C 2 and C 4 symmetric magnetic phases are very close.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

In-situ neutron diffraction study of martensitic variant redistribution in polycrystalline Ni-Mn-Ga alloy under cyclic thermo-mechanical treatment

The influences of uniaxial compressive stress on martensitic transformation were studied on a polycrystalline Ni-Mn-Ga bulk alloy prepared by directional solidification. Based upon the integrated in-situ neutron diffraction measurements, direct experimental evidence was obtained on the variant redistribution of seven-layered modulated (7M) martensite, triggered by external uniaxial compression during martensitic transformation. Large anisotropic lattice strain, induced by the cyclic thermo-mechanical treatment, has led to the microstructure modification by forming martensitic variants with a strong 〈0 1 0〉{sub 7M} preferential orientation along the loading axis. As a result, the saturation of magnetization became easier to be reached.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2010

Neutron Diffraction Investigation of Langanite Crystals

The upper and lower parts of a single crystal with a nominal composition La{sub 3}Ga{sub 5.5}Nb{sub 0.5}O{sub 14}grown by the Czochralski method (Ir crucible, 99%Ar + 1%O{sub 2}, growth direction) have been studied by neutron diffraction for the first time. The compositions of the upper and lower parts are found to differ ((La{sub 2.935(2)}{open_square}{sub 0.065})(Ga{sub 0.450}Nb{sub 0.550(3)})Ga{sub 3}(Ga{sub 1.965(4)} {open_square}{sub 0.035})(O{sub 13.90(1)} {open_square}{sub 0.10}) and (La{sub 2.940(1)} {open_square}{sub 0.060})(Ga{sub 0.590}Nb{sub 0.410(2)})Ga{sub 5}(O{sub 13.82(1)} {open_square}{sub 0.18}), respectively), and microtwin formation was observed in the upper part, with two unit cells related by the translation 1/2Z. Based on a comparison of the refined crystal composition and optical transmission spectra, the absorption bands at 30 000, 24 500, and 20 500 cm{sub -1} were assigned to divacancies (2 V{sub La}{sup '''}, 3 V{sub O}{sup ..}), oxygen vacancies, and color centers, respectively. A relationship between the crystal color and oxygen content is established.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Understanding the High-Temperature Deformation Behaviors in Additively Manufactured Al6061+TiC Composites via In Situ Neutron Diffraction

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are designed to enhance the performance of conventional aluminum alloys for engineering applications at both room and elevated temperatures. However, the dynamic phase-specific deformation behavior and load-sharing mechanisms of AMCs at elevated temperatures have not been extensively studied and remain unclear. Here, in situ neutron diffraction experiments are employed to reveal the phase-specific structure evolution of additively manufactured Al6061+TiC composites under compressive loading at 250 °C. It is found that the addition of a small amount of nano-size TiC significantly alters the deformation behavior and increases the strength at 250 °C in comparison to the as-printed Al6061. Unlike the two-stage behavior observed in Al6061, the Al6061+TiC composites exhibit three stages during compression triggered by changes in the interphase stress states. Further analysis of Bragg peak intensity and broadening reveals that the presence of TiC alters the dislocation activity during deformation at 250 °C by influencing dislocation slip planes and promoting dislocation accumulation. These findings provide direct experimental observations of the phase-specific dynamic process in AMCs under deformation at an elevated temperature. The revealed mechanisms provide insights for the future design and optimization of high-performance AMCs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Neutron diffraction study of magnetic ordering in high pressure phases of rare earth metal holmium

The magnetic ordering in rare earth metals is well established for ambient pressure crystal structures, however, little is known about the magnetic ordering in their corresponding high-pressure crystalline modifications. Holmium (Ho) was studied in a large-volume diamond anvil cell at the Spallation Neutron Source to high-pressure up to 20 GPa and to low-temperature to 10 K. We have conducted two independent high-pressure low-temperature experiments under non-hydrostatic and quasi-hydrostatic pressure conditions respectively. The ambient pressure hexagonal close packed (hcp) phase of holmium shows two magnetic transitions below 10 GPa one to an incommensurate Antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase and another to a conical-Ferromagnetic (c-FM) phase. In contrast, alpha-Samarium-type (α-Sm) phase above 10 GPa and the double hexagonal close packed (dhcp) phase above 19 GPa show only one FM transition marked by the appearance of a magnetic peak at 3 Å and the concurrent enhancement of nuclear peaks below 30 K. Finally, these new transitions observed by neutron diffraction can be accounted by a commensurate superlattice formation along c-axis in both the α-Sm-type phase and the dhcp phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Probing Thermal Stability of Li-Ion Battery Ni-Rich Layered Oxide Cathodes by means of Operando Gas Analysis and Neutron Diffraction

Thermal stability is a crucial parameter that must be considered within the overall performance metrics of Ni-rich layered oxide cathodes. While the intrinsic structural stability of the cathode materials under thermal conditions is important, it is also critical to consider their reaction with electrolytes. In this study, operando gas analysis, ex situ neutron diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry were combined to give a broader picture of the thermal stability of Ni-rich NMC cathodes. Li 1– x Ni 0.8 Mn 0.1 Co 0.1 O 2 (NMC811) composite materials with four different states of charge were investigated with and without the presence of an electrolyte. It has been found that electrolyte can greatly accelerate both the structural and thermal decomposition of the cathode materials. A higher state of charge will also make cathode materials more susceptible to thermal shock. Without an electrolyte, O 2 release inducing a structural change from layered to rock salt was the major observation during thermal runaway. However, all samples retained some levels of layered structure after annealing up to 300 °C without the electrolyte. In comparison, almost all the O3-type layered phase transformed to the rock-salt phase for the cathode materials heated with the electrolyte at the same experimental conditions. Moreover, the amount of CO 2 increased by nearly two orders of magnitude when annealing cathode materials with electrolyte in operando gas analysis experiments. More delithiated NMC811 samples released larger amounts of CO 2 at earlier onset temperatures, resonating well with the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showing that more delithiated samples release more heat during thermal shock.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Preliminary neutron diffraction analysis of challenging human manganese superoxide dismutase crystals

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are enzymes that protect against oxidative stress by dismutation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide through cyclic reduction and oxidation of the active-site metal. The complete enzymatic mechanisms of SODs are unknown since data on the positions of hydrogen are limited. Here, methods are presented for large crystal growth and neutron data collection of human manganese SOD (MnSOD) using perdeuteration and the MaNDi beamline at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The crystal from which the human MnSOD data set was obtained is the crystal with the largest unit-cell edge (240 Å) from which data have been collected via neutron diffraction to sufficient resolution (2.30 Å) where hydrogen positions can be observed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

Residual Stresses in DC cast Aluminum Billet: Neutron Diffraction Measurements and Thermomechanical Modeling

Thermally-induced residual stresses, generated during the industrial Direct Chill casting process of aluminum alloys, can cause both significant safety concerns as well as the formation of defects during down-stream processing. Although these thermally induced strains can be partially relieved by permanent deformation, cracks will be generated either during solidification (hot tears) or post-solidification cooling (cold cracks) when stresses exceed the deformation limit of the alloy. Furthermore, the thermally induced strains result in the presence of large internal stresses within the billet before further processing steps. Although numerical models have been previously developed to compute these residual stresses, most of the computations have been validated only against measured surface distortions. In the present work, the variation in residual elastic strains and stresses in the steady state regime of casting has been measured as a function of radial position using neutron diffraction in an AA6063 grain-refined cylindrical billet. These measurements have been carried out on the same billet section at Poldi at PSI-Villigen and at Salsa at ILL-Grenoble and compare favorably. The results are used to validate a thermo-mechanical finite element casting model and to assess the level of stored elastic energy within the billet.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Empirically testing vaterite structural models using neutron diffraction and thermal analysis

Otoliths, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) ear bones, are among the most commonly used age and growth structures of fishes. Most fish otoliths are comprised of the most dense CaCO 3 polymorph, aragonite. Sturgeon otoliths, in contrast, have been characterized as the rare and structurally enigmatic polymorph, vaterite a metastable polymorph of CaCO 3 . Vaterite is an important material ranging from biomedical to personal care applications although its crystal structure is highly debated. We characterized the structure of sturgeon otoliths using thermal analysis and neutron powder diffraction, which is used non-destructively. We confirmed that while sturgeon otoliths are primarily composed of vaterite, they also contain the denser CaCO 3 polymorph, calcite. For the vaterite fraction, neutron diffraction data provide enhanced discrimination of the carbonate group compared to x-ray diffraction data, owing to the different relative neutron scattering lengths, and thus offer the opportunity to uniquely test the more than one dozen crystal structural models that have been proposed for vaterite. Of those, space group P6 5 22 model, a = 7.1443(4)Å , c = 25.350(4)Å , V = 1121.5(2)Å 3 provides the best fit to the neutron powder diffraction data, and allows for a structure refinement using rigid carbonate groups.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗