Abstract: The effect of Ag addition on the precipitation evolution and interfacial segregation for Al-Mg-Si alloys was systematically investigated by atomic resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), atom probe tomography (APT) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. At the early aging stage, Ag atoms could enter clusters and refine the distribution of these clusters. Then, Ag atoms preferentially segregate at the GP zone/alpha-Al and beta ''/alpha-Al interfaces at the peak aging stage by the replacement of Al atoms in FCC matrix. With prolonging aging time, Ag atoms generally incorporate into the interior of beta '' precipitate, facilitating the formation of QP lattice (a hexagonal network of Si atomic columns) and the local symmetry substructures, Ag sub-unit (1) and Ag sub-unit (2). At the over-aged stage, the Ag sub-unit (1) and Ag sub-unit (2) could transform to the beta'(Ag) (i.e. beta'(Ag1) and beta'(Ag2).) and Q'(Ag) unit cells, respectively. All the precipitates at the over-aging stage have a composite and disordered structure due to the coexistence of different unit cells (beta'(Ag1), beta'(Ag2), Q'(Ag) and beta') and the non-periodic arrangement of Ag atoms within the precipitate. In the equilibrium stage, the incorporated Ag atoms in the precipitates release into the alpha-Al matrix as solute atoms or form Ag particles. In general, Ag atoms undergo a process of “segregate at the precipitate/matrix interface -> incorporate into the interior of precipitate -> release into the alpha-Al matrix” during the precipitation for Al-Mg-Si-Ag alloys. Besides, Ag segregation is found at the interfaces of almost all metastable phases (including GP zone, beta '', beta'/beta'(Ag) phase) in Al-Mg-Si-Ag alloys. The Ag segregation at the beta'/alpha-Al interface could increase the length/diameter ratio of beta' phase and thus promote the additional strengthening potential of these alloys. These findings provide a new route for precipitation hardening by promoting the nucleation and morphology evolution of precipitates. (C) 2019 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A dislocation-based crystal plasticity model is developed in order to study the mechanical and creep/ relaxation behaviour of polycrystalline metallic thin films. The model accounts for the confinement of plasticity due to grain boundaries and for the anisotropy of individual grains, as well as for the significant viscoplastic effects associated to dislocation dominated thermally activated mechanisms. Numerical predictions are assessed based on experimental tensile test followed by relaxation on freestanding Pd films, based on an on-chip test technique. The dislocation-based mechanism assumption captures all the experimental trends, including the stress strain response, the relaxation behaviour and the dislocation density evolution, confirming the dominance of a dislocation driven deformation mechanism for the present Pd films with high defects density. The model has also been used to address some original experimental evidences involving back stresses, Bauschinger effect, backward creep and strain recovery. (C) 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Nb occupancy in the austenite B2-NiTi matrix and Ti2Ni phase in NiTiNb shape memory alloys was investigated by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and precession electron diffraction. In both cases, Nb atoms were found to prefer to occupy the Ti rather than Ni sites. A projector augmented wave method within density functional theory was used to calculate the atomic and electronic structures of the austenitic B2-NiTi matrix phase and the Ti2Ni precipitates both with and without addition of Nb. The obtained formation energies and analysis of structural and electronic characteristics explain the preference for Ti sites for Nb over Ni sites.

Abstract: Uniaxial straining experiments were performed on a rolled and annealed Si-alloyed TRIP (transformation-induced plasticity) steel sheet in order to assess the role of its microstructure on the mechanical stability of austenite grains with respect to martensitic transformation. The transformation behavior of individual metastable austenite grains was studied both at the surface and inside the bulk of the material using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) by deforming the samples to different strain levels up to about 20%. A comparison of the XRD and EBSD results revealed that the retained austenite grains at the surface have a stronger tendency to transform than the austenite grains in the bulk of the material. The deformation-induced changes of individual austenite grains before and after straining were monitored with EBSD. Three different types of austenite grains can be distinguished that have different transformation behaviors: austenite grains at the grain boundaries between ferrite grains, twinned austenite grains, and embedded austenite grains that are completely surrounded by a single ferrite grain. It was found that twinned austenite grains and the austenite grains present at the grain boundaries between larger ferrite grains typically transform first, i.e. are less stable, in contrast to austenite grains that are completely embedded in a larger ferrite grain. In the latter case, straining leads to rotations of the harder austenite grain within the softer ferrite matrix before the austenite transforms into martensite. The analysis suggests that austenite grain rotation behavior is also a significant factor contributing to enhancement of the ductility. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: We propose a weak condition of compatibility between phases applicable to cases exhibiting full or partial coherence and Widmanstätten microstructure. The condition is applied to the study of Sb2Te3 precipitates in a PbTe matrix in a thermoelectric alloy. The weak condition of compatibility predicts elongated precipitates lying on a cone determined by a transformation stretch tensor. Comparison of this cone with the long directions of precipitates determined by a slice-and-view method of scanning electron microscopy combined with focused ion beam sectioning shows good agreement between theory and experiment. A further study of the morphology of precipitates by the Eshelby method suggests that interfacial energy also plays a role and gives an approximate value of interfacial energy per unit area of 250 dyn cm−1.

Abstract: Microstructural changes taking place during the heat treatment of cold-worked NiTi alloy are of key interest in shape memory alloy technology, since they are responsible for setting the austenite shape and functional properties of the heat-treated alloy. In this work, microstructural evolution during non-conventional electropulse heat treatment of thin NiTi filaments was investigated in a unique high-speed in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiment with simultaneous evaluation of the tensile force and electrical resistivity of the treated wire. The in situ results provide direct experimental evidence on the evolution of the internal stress and density of defects during fast heating from 20 °C to ∼700 °C. This evidence is used to characterize a sequence of dynamic recovery and recrystallization processes responsible for the microstructure and superelastic functional property changes during the electropulse treatments.

Abstract: Although it is well known that FeMnC TWIP steels exhibit high work-hardening rates, the elementary twinning mechanisms controlling the plastic deformation of these steels have still not been characterized. The aim of the present study is to analyse the extended defects related to the twinning occurrence using transmission electron microscopy. Based on these observations, the very early stage of twin nucleation can be attributed to the pole mechanism with deviation proposed by Cohen and Weertman or to the model of Miura, Takamura and Narita, while the twin growth is controlled by the pole mechanism proposed by Venables. High densities of sessile Frank dislocations are observed within the twins at the early stage of deformation, which can affect the growth and the stability of the twins, but also the strength of these twins and their interactions with the gliding dislocations present in the matrix. This experimental evidence is discussed and compared to recent results in order to relate the defects analysis to the macroscopic behaviour of this category of material.

Abstract: CoFe2/CoFe2O4 bilayers were made by pulsed laser ablation of a CoFe2 target on Si(I 0 0) substrates. The metallic layer was deposited first, in vacuum. The oxide was then deposited in an oxidizing O-2:N-2 (20:80) atmosphere. Two different procedures were used for the introduction of the oxidizing atmosphere in the deposition chamber: the laser ablation of the target was either stopped (discontinuous deposition process) or maintained (continuous deposition process) during the 20 min necessary for the establishment of the desired O-2:N-2 pressure. In both cases, the different electronegativities of Fe and Co cause an important modification of the Fe/Co ratio at the metal/oxide interface, with a depletion of Fe in the metal region and of Co in the oxide region. In the continuous procedure, the combination of the kinetic energy given by the ablation process to the Fe and Co adatoms with the one they get from their different affinity towards oxidation allows the formation of a low roughness metal/oxide interface with a high (111) preferred orientation of the CoFe2O4 layer, an induced re-crystallisation of the metal layer underneath and an unusual antiferromagnetic metal/oxide magnetic coupling. (c) 2005 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: There is an urgent need for sensing strategies to screen perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aqueous matrices. These strategies must be applicable in large-scale monitoring plans to face the ubiquitous use of PFAS, their wide global spread, and their fast evolution towards short-chain, branched molecules. To this aim, the changes in fluorinated self-assembled monolayers (SAM) with different architectures (pinholes/defects-free and with randomized pinholes/defects) were studied upon exposure to both long and short-chain PFAS. The applicability of fluorinated SAM in PFAS sensing was evaluated. Changes in the SAM structures were characterised combining electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and voltam-metric techniques. The experimental data interpretation was supported by molecular dynamics simu-lations to gain a more in-depth understanding of the interaction mechanisms involved. Pinhole/defect-free fluorinated SAM were found to be applicable to long-chain PFAS screening within switch-on sensing strategy, while a switch-off sensing strategy was reported for screening of both short/long-chain PFAS. These strategies confirmed the possibility to play on fluorophilic interactions when designing PFAS screening methods.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Dry deposition velocities have been calculated using three different approaches. Turbulent wind profile theory has been used to predict the drag coefficient, wind speed and friction velocity at 10 m height when the wind speed is measured at a higher altitude. The resulting parameters were introduced in a two-layer deposition model. The second approach was the well-known model of Slinn and Slinn (1980, Atmospheric Environment 14, 1013-1016), whereas the third corresponded to the model published by Williams (1982, Atmospheric Environment 16, 1933 1938). Results point to clear differences. However, in a field experiment carried out at the Southern Bight of the North Sea, all three approaches show relatively comparable results. The role played by the size distribution of atmospheric particulate matter is essential. In our case any of the three models could have given satisfactory outcomes taking into account the wide spread of the experimental results cited in the literature for the same airshed.