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At least 91 records · Page 5

Computer simulation of grain boundary self-diffusion in aluminum

In the work study the process of self-diffusion in symmetric tilt grain boundaries (GB) with the axes misorientation [100], [110] and [111]. The research was carried out by the methods of computer simulation The objects of the research are the three GB of common and special type for each axis misorientation. The angles of misorientation of the common GB is amounted to 10°, 30° and 50°. The simulation was performed by the method of molecular dynamics in the temperature range from 600 to 1000 K, with an interval of 50 K. For research on the direction jumps atoms were built tracks the movement of atoms in the process of self-diffusion. The calculations have shown, that for all of GB is characterized by pronounced anisotropy of the jumps at low temperatures (< 700K). At temperatures near to the melting point directions of the jumps are isotropic only for three GB (Θ=30°[100], Θ=50=[100] and Σ5(013)[100]). For other GB such as [100] and [110] remains priority direction of diffusion along the nuclei GB dislocations. Arrenius curves have from one to three linear plots with different tilt. Change the tilt of Arrenius dependences testifies to the change in the mechanism of self-diffusion. The parameters of grainboundary self-diffusion were determined The activation energy of grainboundary diffusion in 4–5 times lower than the energy of activation of a volume self-diffusion of aluminum (about 200 KJ/mol). The minimum value of activation energy has GB 10° with the axis misorientation [100] (10,15 KJ/mol), maximum (104.12 Kj/mol) - a special GB Σ11(113)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Molecular dynamics simulation of Xe bubble nucleation in nanocrystalline UO2 nuclear fuel

We have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the dynamical interactions between vacancy defects, fission gas atoms (Xe), and moving grain boundaries in a model of polycrystalline UO2 nuclear fuel with average grain diameter of about 20 nm. We followed the mobility and aggregation of Xe atoms in the vacancy-saturated model compound for up to 2 ns. During this time we observed the aggregation of Xe atoms into nuclei, which are possible precursors to Xe bubbles. The nucleation was driven by the migration of Xe atoms via vacancy-assisted diffusion. The Xe clusters aggregate faster than grain boundary diffusion rates and are smaller than experimentally observed bubbles. As the system evolves to equilibrium, the vacancies reach a near steady-state distribution, the Xe atom cluster growth slows down significantly, and the lattice relaxes around the cluster. These simulations provide insights into fundamental physical processes that are inaccessible to experiment.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Influence of microstructure on replacement and porosity generation during experimental dolomitization of limestones

Replacement reactions commonly alter the multiscale pore structures of rocks during fluid-rock interactions. Analysis of these processes in various model fluid-rock systems during controlled laboratory experiments provides insights into the origins of microstructures found in natural materials. This study focused on understanding the effects of initial starting material permeability and resultant differences in transport pathways on porosity and mineralogical changes during limestone dolomitization.A series of replacement experiments (32–317 days in duration) have been conducted in which 1.59 cm (5/8 in.) diameter cores of two different limestones were reacted with saturated MgCl2 solutions at 200 °C. The Texas Cream (Austin Chalk) is a high-porosity, high-permeability limestone, whereas both the porosity and permeability of the Carthage Marble (Burlington Limestone) are relatively low. Altered limestones were imaged using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF–SIMS) and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). A representative grain boundary of the low-porosity limestone was targeted for a focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These results were coupled with analyses of radial changes in the porosity distribution of the core derived from X-ray and neutron small- and ultra-small angle scattering ((U)SANS/(U)SAXS).The high-porosity/permeability limestone showed a four times faster bulk replacement rate than the lower-porosity/permeability material, and a different mechanism of porosity development. For the low-porosity limestone, a two-stage replacement occurred, with the reacted region of the core consisting of an inner rim in which the limestone was replaced by two calcite-dolomite solid solutions, and an outer rim in which the dolomite was replaced by magnesite. Elongated pores formed along grain boundaries at the initial limestone/dolomite reaction interface, and additional nanometer-scale porosity was formed at the secondary magnesite replacement rim. Grain boundaries were identified as preferential pathways for transport leading to dolomitization and a grain boundary diffusion rate was calculated based on microstructural characterization. In contrast, replacement in the high-porosity limestone was accompanied by porosity generation through replacement of individual grains by dolomite throughout the sample and, in longer runs, magnesite in outer parts of the core. These observations emphasize that both the mechanisms of the replacement reaction and the microstructure and chemistry of the replaced product are contingent on the initial structure of the starting material.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Crystal Growth and Atom Diffusion in (Cu)ZnTe/CdTe via Molecular Dynamics

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental evaporation were applied to study the growth of evaporated (Cu)ZnTe on mono- and polycrystalline CdTe. The simulated structures show polytypism and polycrystallinity, including texturing and grain boundaries, diffusion, and other phenomena in excellent qualitative agreement with experimental atomic probe tomography, transmission electron microscope, and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Results show formation of Cu clusters in nonstoichiometric growths even at early stages of deposition. Results also show significantly faster diffusion along defected regions (uncorrelated CdTe grain boundaries) as compared with more highly crystalline areas (high-symmetry grain boundaries and pristine regions). Activation energies and pre-exponential factors of Cu, Zn, and Te diffusion were determined using simulation. The MD model captures crystal growth phenomena with a high degree of fidelity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Grain growth kinetics of the gamma phase metallic uranium

We report metallic uranium is a leading fuel form for sodium cooled fast reactors as an enabling technology of future nuclear energy systems. Mechanistic understanding of fuel behaviors and kinetics under thermodynamic equilibrium and highly non-equilibrium conditions are essential for evaluating fuel performance. It is important to understand and predict the grain and pore evolutions of metallic fuels under thermal and irradiation conditions. However, very limited data are available on the grain growth kinetics and mechanisms of pure gamma phase uranium. In this paper, the pure gamma uranium pellets with different grain structures were fabricated by combining high-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering. Isothermal annealing tests were performed to investigate the grain growth behavior of the pure gamma phase uranium with different initial grain sizes. A parabolic relationship in grain growth with time was identified for the submicron-sized (374 nm) sample. In contrast, for the nano-sized (137 nm) sample, the grain growth shows a linear relationship with time. The activation energies of grain growth were determined as 199.5 KJ/mol and 80.6 KJ/mol for nano-sized and submicron-sized grain structures, respectively. For the nano-sized sample, the rate-control step of grain growth is dominated by the triple-junction migration, in which the grain boundary triple junction drags the grain growth, leading to a higher activation energy than the bulk diffusion. The dominating mechanism for the submicron-sized sample is grain boundary diffusion. The mechanistic understanding and critical data obtained on the kinetics of pure uranium phases will be useful to evaluate fuel behavior under thermodynamic equilibrium conditions and develop a high fidelity model to predict fuel performance.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Field-assisted sintering and phase transition of ZnS-CaLa 2 S 4 composite ceramics

In the present study, zinc sulfide (ZnS) and calcium lanthanum sulfide (CaLa 2 S 4 , CLS) composite ceramics were consolidated via field-assisted sintering of 0.5ZnS-0.5CLS (volume ratio) composite powders at 800–1050 °C. Through sintering curve analyses and microstructural observations, it was determined that between 800 and 1000 °C, grain boundary diffusion was the main mechanism controlling grain growth for both the ZnS and CLS phases within the composite ceramics. The consolidated composite ceramics were determined to be composed of sphalerite ZnS, wurtzite ZnS and thorium phosphate CLS. The sphalerite-wurtzite phase transition of ZnS was further demonstrated to be accompanied by the formation of stacking faults and twins in the ceramics. Furthermore, it was also found that the addition of the CLS phase improved the indentation hardness of the ceramics relative to pure ZnS by homogeneous dispersion of ZnS and CLS small grains.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Diffusivity in Alumina Scales Grown on Al-MAX Phases

Ti3AlC2, Ti2AlC, and Cr2AlC are oxidation resistant MAX phase compounds distinguished by the formation of protective Al2O3 scales with well controlled kinetics. A modified Wagner treatment was used to obtain interfacial grain boundary diffusivity, deltaD(sub gb,O,int.), from scale growth rates and corresponding grain size. It is based on the p(O2)(exp -1/6) dependency of the double charged oxygen vacancy and oxygen diffusivity, coupled with the effective diffusion constant for short circuit grain boundary paths. Data from the literature for MAX phases was analyzed accordingly, and deltaD(sub gb,O,int.) was found to nearly coincide with the Arrhenius line developed for Zr-doped FeCrAl, where: deltaD(sub gb,O,int.) = 1.8x10(exp -10) exp(-375 kJ/RT) cubic meters/s. Furthermore, this oxidation relation suggests the more general format applicable to bulk samples under ambient conditions: deltaD(sub gb,O) = 7.567x10(exp -8) exp(-544 kJ/RT) p(O2)(exp -1/6) cubic meters/[s x Pa(exp -1/6)]. Data from many other FeCrAl(X) studies were similarly assessed to show general agreement with the relation for deltaD(sub gb,O,int.). This analysis reinforces the view that protective alumina scales grow by similar mechanisms for these Al-MAX phases and oxidation resistant FeCrAl alloys.

aluminum oxide↗

Measurement and analysis of grain boundary grooving by volume diffusion

Experimental measurements of isothermal grain boundary grooving by volume diffusion are carried out for Sn bicrystals in the Sn-Pb system near the eutectic temperature. The dimensions of the groove increase with a temporal exponent of 1/3, and measurement of the associated rate constant allows the determination of the product of the liquid diffusion coefficient D and the capillarity length Gamma associated with the interfacial free energy of the crystal-melt interface. The small-slope theory of Mullins is generalized to the entire range of dihedral angles by using a boundary integral formulation of the associated free boundary problem, and excellent agreement with experimental groove shapes is obtained. By using the diffusivity measured by Jordon and Hunt, the present measured values of Gamma are found to agree to within 5 percent with the values obtained from experiments by Gunduz and Hunt on grain boundary grooving in a temperature gradient.

Hardy, S. C.↗

Se diffusion in CdTe thin films for photovoltaics

Manipulating CdSeTe bandgrading to enhance photocurrent and carrier lifetime is an essential part of high-performance CdTe photovoltaics (PVs). Here, we examine Se diffusion kinetics in single-crystal and polycrystalline CdTe during deposition, thermal annealing, and CdCl 2 treatments. Se distributions are determined by dynamic secondary-ion-mass spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiling and coupled with electron backscatter diffraction images of the crystalline structure. Effective bulk and grain boundary diffusion coefficients are determined by analytical models and discussed in the context of processing and film morphology. Se is found to diffuse in CdTe at much higher rates during CdCl 2 treatments than with thermal processing alone. GB diffusion also occurs at a significantly faster rate than bulk diffusion. As a result of these two effects, the near interface bulk and GB Se diffusion during CdCl 2 treatments dominates the bandgrading profiles in CdTe PVs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Mechanics of point defect diffusion near dislocations and grain boundaries: A chemomechanical framework

Diffusion of point defects during irradiation is simulated via a two-way coupling between mechanical stress and defect diffusion in iron. This diffusion is based on a modified chemical potential that includes not only the local concentration of radiation-induced defects, but also the influence of the residual stress field from both the microstructure (i.e. dislocations or grain boundaries) and the eigenstrain caused by the defects themselves. Defect flux and concentration rates are derived from this chemical potential using Fick’s first and second laws. Mean field rate theory is incorporated to model the annihilation of Frenkel pairs, and increased annihilation near grain boundaries is included based on the elastic energy of each grain boundary. Mechanical equilibrium is coupled with diffusion by computing eigenstrain from point defects and adding this to the total strain. Intrinsic stresses associated with the dislocations and grain boundaries are calculated using dislocation and disclination mechanics. Through this two-way-coupled model, regions of low concentration are seen near grain boundaries, and sink efficiency is calculated for different types of microstructure. Furthermore, the results show that the two-way mechanical coupling has a strong influence on sink efficiency for dislocation loops. The results also suggest that misorientation is a poor metric for determining sink efficiency, with sink density and elastic energy being much more informative.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Competing Grain Boundary and Interior Deformation Mechanisms with Varying Sizes

In typical coarse-grained alloys, the dominant plastic deformations are dislocation gliding or climbing, and material strengths can be tuned by dislocation interactions with grain boundaries, precipitates, solid solutions, and other defects. With the reduction of grain size, the increase of material strengths follows the classic Hall-Petch relationship up to nano-grained materials. Even at room temperatures, nano-grained materials exhibit strength softening, or called the inverse Hall-Petch effect, as grain boundary processes take over as the dominant deformation mechanisms. On the other hand, at elevated temperatures, grain boundary processes compete with grain interior deformation mechanisms over a wide range of the applied stress and grain sizes. This book chapter reviews and compares the rate equation model and the microstructure-based finite element simulations. The latter explicitly accounts for the grain boundary sliding, grain boundary diffusion and migration, as well as the grain interior dislocation creep. Therefore the explicit finite element method has clear advantages in problems where microstructural heterogeneities play a critical role, such as in the gradient microstructure in shot peening or weldment. Furthermore, combined with the Hall-Petch effect and its breakdown, the above competing processes help construct deformation mechanism maps by extending from the classic Frost-Ashby type to the ones with the dependence of grain size.

Zhang, Wei↗

Identifying multiple synergistic factors on the susceptibility to stress relaxation cracking in variously heat-treated weldments

The 347H austenitic stainless steel has been widely used for pressure vessels and pipeline (PVP) applications due to its excellent creep and corrosion resistance, which fit ideally to the harsh conditions in petrochemical industries, fossil fuel or nuclear power plants, and modern energy storages. However, a failure mode has been commonly observed with cracks emerging at the heat affected zone (HAZ) of weldments during post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) or under intermediate to high temperature service conditions. This phenomenon is termed as Stress Relaxation Cracking (SRC) since the purpose of PWHT is to relieve the welding-induced residual stress fields, or as Stress Age Cracking (SAC) if failure happens during service. A leading literature explanation of this failure suggests that the residual stress relaxation and the precipitation dissolution and/or re-precipitation occur in the same temperature range, which can lead to locally high strains and thus to crack at the grain boundaries. Since in situ spatial measurements of residual stress fields, microstructural evolution, and failure processes are nearly infeasible, this work recourses to a micromechanical finite element framework that models the high temperature failure as the nucleation and growth of grain boundary cavities, whereas various parameters such as thermomechanical loading history and its evolution, the competition of grain-interior dislocation creep and grain-boundary diffusion in failure lifetime, and microstructural heterogeneities (such as the precipitate free zone near grain boundaries) can be quantitatively incorporated. It can be concluded from these microstructure-explicit simulations that an accurate knowledge of residual stress evolution and a carefully calibrated set of material constitutive parameters are the essential prerequisites for lifetime predictions. The understanding of individual governing factors also leads to a mechanistic interpretation of the observed SRC susceptibility C-curves. In conclusion, these results suggest that the criticality of residual stress evolution, but not the precipitation-induced local strains, be the leading factor for SRC.

347H stainless steel weldments↗

Strengthening of nanocrystalline Al using grain boundary solute additions: Effects of thermal annealing and ion irradiation

Strengthening of nanocrystalline Al by grain boundary solute additions was investigated for a series of dilute aluminum alloys, Al-Sc, Al-Sb, Al-Cr, and Al-W with grain sizes in the range of 50–200 nm. Thermal annealing of the alloys at low temperatures led to alloy softening, but with negligible change in the grain size. The re- duction in strength can be attributed to the loss of solute in the grain boundaries arising from grain boundary diffusion and precipitation. Annealing at higher temperatures led to grain growth, but with little additional loss of strength, a result of precipitation hardening. The Al-Sc and Al-Sb alloys were additionally subjected to ion irradiation at various temperatures. Furthermore, these studies revealed that annealed samples regained their hardness due to solute redistribution by ion beam mixing. Alloy strength was independent of grain size between 50 and 150 nms. Irradiation-induced segregation of Sb to grain boundaries in Al-Sb further enhanced strengthening.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low temperature diffusion process using rare earth-Cu eutectic alloys for hot-deformed Nd-Fe-B bulk magnets

The low temperature grain boundary diffusion process using RE{sub 70}Cu{sub 30} (RE = Pr, Nd) eutectic alloy powders was applied to sintered and hot-deformed Nd-Fe-B bulk magnets. Although only marginal coercivity increase was observed in sintered magnets, a substantial enhancement in coercivity was observed when the process was applied to hot-deformed anisotropic bulk magnets. Using Pr{sub 70}Cu{sub 30} eutectic alloy as a diffusion source, the coercivity was enhanced from 1.65 T to 2.56 T. The hot-deformed sample expanded along c-axis direction only after the diffusion process as RE rich intergranular layers parallel to the broad surface of the Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B are thickened in the c-axis direction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Abnormal grain growth driven by high-temperature proton irradiation in nanocrystalline Ni

In this research we examine a nanocrystalline Ni thin film exposed to high-temperature proton irradiation and compare it with as-deposited and annealed-only counterparts. Despite lacking thermal spikes typical of heavy ions, 400 °C proton irradiation drives pronounced grain growth in select grains, whereas annealing alone yields only modest coarsening. Grain-boundary statistics show fewer low-angle boundaries (10–20°) and more high-angle boundaries (55–60°), consistent with irradiation-enhanced mobility of high-misorientation boundaries. The irradiated films retain a random texture, with no evidence of texture development or sharpening. Mechanisms, such as radiation-enhanced grain boundary diffusion, beam-induced heating, and ion channeling-mediated selective grain growth, are unlikely to be the predominant drivers to explain the resultant microstructure. Instead, we suggest irradiation-induced modifications of grain-boundary structure, including possible complexion transitions, as one plausible explanation for this selective grain growth and retention of random texture. However, additional temperature–dose studies are required to confirm the mechanism.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reduction of vanadium diffusivity within copper grain boundaries due to enhanced binding

We investigate permeation of vanadium (V) through copper (Cu) layers in V/Cu/niobium (Nb) and molybdenum (Mo)/Cu/V tri-layer composites and compare it with the permeation behavior of Nb. Despite their low solubility in single-crystal Cu, both V and Nb permeate readily due to short-circuit transport through Cu grain boundaries (GBs). However, Nb permeates preferentially to V. Atomistic simulations suggest that this difference is due to lower V diffusivity at general GBs in Cu, compared to Nb. Here, the lower V diffusivity, in turn, arises from stronger V binding to the boundary, which manifests as a greater equilibrium GB concentration as well as a higher activation energy for GB diffusion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Kinetics and thermodynamics associated with Bi adsorption transitions at Cu and Ni grain boundaries

The grain boundary diffusivity of Au in Cu and Cu-Bi, and Cu in Ni and Ni-Bi are characterized by secondary ion mass spectroscopy depth profiling. Samples are equilibrated in a Bi containing atmosphere at temperatures above and below the onset of grain boundary adsorption transitions, sometimes called complexion transitions. A simple thermo-kinetic model is used to estimate the relative entropic contributions to the grain boundary energies. The results indicate that the entropy term plays a major role in promoting thermally and chemically induced grain boundary complexion transition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗