TY - JOUR A1 - Winkelmann, A. A1 - Nolze, Gert A1 - Cios, G. A1 - Tokarski, T. A1 - Bala, P. A1 - Hourahine, B. A1 - Trager-Cowan, C. T1 - Kikuchi pattern simulations of backscattered and transmitted electrons N2 - We discuss a refined simulation approach which treats Kikuchi diffraction patterns in electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD). The model considers the result of two combined mechanisms: (a) the dynamical diffraction of electrons emitted coherently from point sources in a crystal and (b) diffraction effects on incoherent diffuse intensity distributions. Using suitable parameter settings, the refined simulation model allows to reproduce various thickness- and energy-dependent features which are observed in experimental Kikuchi diffraction patterns. Excess-deficiency features are treated by the effect of gradients in the incoherent background intensity. Based on the analytical two-beam approximation to dynamical electron diffraction, a phenomenological model of excess-deficiency features is derived, which can be used for pattern matching applications. The model allows to approximate the effect of the incident beam geometry as a correction signal for template patterns which can be reprojected from pre-calculated reference data. As an application, we find that the accuracy of fitted projection centre coordinates in EBSD and TKDcan be affected by changes in the order of 10−3–10-2 if excess-deficiency features are not considered in the theoreticalmodel underlying a best-fit pattern matching approach. Correspondingly, the absolute accuracy of simulation-based EBSD strain determination can suffer frombiases of a similar order of magnitude if excess-deficiency effects are neglected in the simulation model. KW - Electron diffraction KW - EBSD KW - Kikuchi diffraction KW - Pattern matching PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.13051 VL - 284 IS - 2 SP - 157 EP - 184 PB - Wiley Online Library AN - OPUS4-53109 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Winkelmann, A. A1 - Nolze, Gert A1 - Cios, G. A1 - Tokarski, T. A1 - Bala, P. T1 - Refined Calibration Model for Improving the Orientation Precision of Electron Backscatter Diffraction Maps N2 - For the precise determination of orientations in polycrystalline materials, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) requires a consistent calibration of the diffraction geometry in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the present paper, the variation of the projection center for the Kikuchi diffraction patterns which are measured by EBSD is calibrated using a projective transformation model for the SEM beam scan positions on the sample. Based on a full pattern matching approach between simulated and experimental Kikuchi patterns, individual projection center estimates are determined on a subgrid of the EBSD map, from which least-square fits to affine and projective transformations can be obtained. Reference measurements on single-crystalline silicon are used to quantify the orientation errors which result from different calibration models for the variation of the projection center. KW - Scanning electron microscopy KW - Electron backscatter diffraction KW - Kikuchi diffraction KW - Projection center KW - Orientation precision PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-509342 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13122816 VL - 13 IS - 12 SP - 2816 PB - MDPI AN - OPUS4-50934 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Winkelmann, A. A1 - Cios, G. A1 - Tokarski, T. A1 - Nolze, Gert A1 - Hielscher, R. A1 - Koziel, T. T1 - EBSD orientation analysis based on experimental Kikuchi reference patterns N2 - Orientation determination does not necessarily require complete knowledge of the local atomic arrangement in a crystalline phase. We present a method for microstructural phase discrimination and orientation analysis of phases for which there is only limited crystallographic information available. In this method, experimental Kikuchi diffraction patterns are utilized to generate a self-consistent master reference for use in the technique of Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The experimentally derived master data serves as an application-specific reference in EBSD pattern matching approaches. As application examples, we map the locally varying orientations in samples of icosahedral quasicrystals observed in a Ti40Zr40Ni20 alloy, and we analyse AlNiCo decagonal quasicrystals. KW - EBSD KW - Quasicrystal KW - Crystal orientation KW - Pattern matching PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-507611 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2020.01.053 VL - 188 SP - 376 EP - 385 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-50761 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weinel, Kristina A1 - Hahn, Marc Benjamin A1 - Lubk, Axel A1 - González Martínez, Ignacio Guillermo A1 - Büchner, Bernd A1 - Agudo Jácome, Leonardo T1 - Nanoparticle Synthesis by Precursor Irradiation with Low-Energy Electrons N2 - Nanoparticles (NPs) and their fabrication routes are intensely studied for their wide range of application in optics, chemistry, and medicine. Γ-ray and ion irradiation of precursor matter are established methods that facilitate tailored NP synthesis without complicated chemistry. Here, we develop and explore NP synthesis based on irradiating precursor microparticles with low-energy electron beams. We specifically demonstrate the fabrication of plasmonic gold nanoparticles of sizes between 3 and 350 nm on an amorphous SiOx substrate using a 30 kV electron beam. By detailed comparison with electron scattering simulations and thermodynamic modeling, we reveal the dominant role of inelastic electron–matter interaction and subsequent localized heating for the observed vaporization of the precursor gold microparticles. This general principle suggests the suitability of electron-beam irradiation for synthesizing NPs of a wide class of materials. KW - Gold Nanoparticle KW - Scanning Electron Microscopy KW - In situ irradiation KW - Thermodynamic modelling KW - Heat Transfer PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-627609 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.4c06033 SN - 2574-0970 VL - 8 IS - 10 SP - 4980 EP - 4988 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-62760 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Waurischk, Tina A1 - Thieme, C. A1 - Rüssel, C. T1 - Crystal growth velocities of a highly anisotropic phase obtained via surface and volume crystallization of barium–strontium–zinc silicate glasses N2 - In the past few years, a new phase, Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2Si2O7 with negative thermal expansion has been described in the literature. Some excess of SiO2 is necessary to produce glasses from which the Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn2Si2O7 phase can be crystallized. Unfortunately, in such glasses usually surface crystallization occurs; however, the addition of nucleating agents such as trace quantities of platinum or relatively high quantities of ZrO2 is necessary to achieve bulk nucleation. These additional components also affect the crystal growth velocity, which furthermore is different for crystal growth from the surface and in the bulk. In this paper, three different chemical compositions containing different ZrO2 concentrations, where one composition additionally contains 100 ppm platinum, are studied with respect to their crystallization behaviour. Although the compositions do not differ much, the crystallization behaviour and also the Crystal growth velocities are surprisingly different. KW - Glass ceramic KW - Crystal growth velocity KW - Low expansion PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-04773-6 SN - 0022-2461 VL - 55 SP - 10364 EP - 10374 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-50853 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Waurischk, Tina A1 - Reinsch, Stefan A1 - Rouxel, T. A1 - Behrens, H. A1 - Deubener, J. A1 - Müller, Ralf T1 - Vacuum crack growth in alkali silicate glasses N2 - Crack growth velocity in alkali silicate glasses was measured in vacuum across 10 orders of magnitude with double cantilever beam technique. Measured and literature crack growth data were compared with calculated intrinsic fracture toughness data obtained from Young´s moduli and the theoretical fracture surface energy estimated from chemical bond energies. Data analysis reveals significant deviations from this intrinsic brittle fracture behavior. These deviations do not follow simple compositional trends. Two opposing processes may explain this finding: a decrease in the apparent fracture surface energy due to stress-induced chemical changes at the crack tip and its increase due to energy dissipation during fracture. KW - Silicate glass KW - Brittle fracture KW - Crack growth KW - Calculated intrinsic fracture toughness PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2021.121094 SN - 0022-3093 VL - 572 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-53144 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Waurischk, Tina A1 - Müller, Ralf A1 - Reinsch, Stefan A1 - Kiefer, P. A1 - Deubener, J. A1 - Balzer, R. A1 - Behrens, H. T1 - Crack Growth in Hydrous Soda-Lime Silicate Glass N2 - Stable crack growth was measured for nominal dry and water-bearing (6 wt%) soda-lime silicate glasses in double cantilever beam geometry and combined with DMA studies on the effects of dissolved water on internal friction and glass transition, respectively. In vacuum, a decreased slope of logarithmic crack growth velocity versus stress intensity factor is evident for the hydrous glass in line with an increase of b-relaxation intensity indicating more energy Dissipation during fracture. Further, inert crack growth in hydrous glass is found to be divided into sections of different slope, which indicates different water related crack propagation mechanism. In ambient air, a largely extended region II is observed for the hydrous glass, which indicates that crack growth is more sensitive to ambient water. KW - Internal friction KW - Soda-lime silicate glass KW - Water content KW - Stable crack growth KW - DCB geometry KW - Stress intensity factor PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-506829 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2020.00066 VL - 7 SP - Articel 66 AN - OPUS4-50682 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Waurischk, Tina A1 - Deubener, J. A1 - Müller, Ralf T1 - Internal friction and energy dissipation during fracture in silicate glasses N2 - To obtain a deeper insight into the nature of energy dissipation during fracture, the internal friction of 13 borosilicate, aluminosilicate, soda-lime, and lead-containing glasses, for which inert crack growth data are known, was measured using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. For asymmetrically bent glass beams, the loss tangent, tan δ, was determined between 0.2 and 50 Hz at temperatures between 273 K and the glass transition temperature, Tg. It was found that the area under the tan δ vs T·Tg−1 curve correlates with the crack growth exponent, n, in the empirical v = v0·KIn relation between crack growth velocity, v, and stress intensity, KI, which indicates that n correlates with the degree of energy dissipation of sub-Tg relaxation phenomena. KW - Glass KW - Internal friction KW - Crack growth PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-631582 DO - https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0255432 SN - 0021-9606 VL - 162 IS - 19 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - AIP Publishing AN - OPUS4-63158 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Was, G.S. A1 - Bahn, C.-B. A1 - Busby, J. A1 - Cui, B. A1 - Farkas, D. A1 - Gussev, M. A1 - Rigen He, M. A1 - Hesterberg, J. A1 - Jiao, Z. A1 - Johnson, D. A1 - Kuang, W. A1 - McMurtrey, M. A1 - Robertson, I. A1 - Sinjlawi, A. A1 - Song, M. A1 - Stephenson, K. A1 - Sun, K. A1 - Swaminathan, Srinivasan A1 - Wang, M. A1 - West, E. T1 - How irradiation promotes intergranular stress corrosion crack initiation N2 - Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is a form of intergranular stress corrosion cracking that occurs in irradiated austenitic alloys. It requires an irradiated microstructure along with high temperature water and stress. The process is ubiquitous in that it occurs in a wide range of austenitic alloys and water chemistries, but only when the alloy is irradiated. Despite evidence of this degradation mode that dates back to the 1960s, the mechanism by which it occurs has remained elusive. Here, using high resolution electron backscattering detection to analyze local stress-strain states, high resolution transmission electron microscopy to identify grain boundary phases at crack tips, and decoupling the roles of stress and grain boundary oxidation, we are able to unfold the complexities of the phenomenon to reveal the mechanism by which IASCC occurs. The significance of the findings impacts the mechanical integrity of core components of both current and advanced nuclear reactor designs worldwide. KW - Irradiation KW - Stress corrosion cracking KW - Grain boundaries KW - Oxidation KW - Austenitic alloys PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-595748 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.101255 SN - 0079-6425 VL - 143 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-59574 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Zengquan A1 - Riechers, Birte A1 - Derlet, Peter M. A1 - Maaß, Robert T1 - Atomic cluster dynamics causes intermittent aging of metallic glasses N2 - In the past two decades, numerous relaxation or physical aging experiments of metallic glasses have revealed signatures of intermittent atomic-scale processes. Revealed via intensity cross-correlations from coherent scattering using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), the observed abrupt changes in the time-domain of atomic motion does not fit the picture of gradual slowing down of relaxation times and their origin continues to remain unclear. Using a binary Lennard-Jones model glass subjected to microsecond-long isotherms, we show here that temporally and spatially heterogeneous atomic-cluster activity at different length-scales drive the emergence of highly non-monotonous intensity cross-correlations. The simulated XPCS experiments reveal a variety of time-dependent intensity-cross correlations that, depending on both the structural evolution and the 𝑞-space sampling, give detailed insights into the possible structural origins of intermittent aging measured with XPCS. KW - Metallic glasses KW - Aging KW - Molecular dynamics KW - XPCS PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-595415 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2024.119730 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 267 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Elsevier B.V. CY - Amsterdam, Niederlande AN - OPUS4-59541 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Lei A1 - Hoyt, J. J. T1 - Layering misalignment and negative temperature dependence of interfacial free energy of B2-liquid interfaces in a glass forming system N2 - From molecular dynamics simulations and the capillary fluctuation method, the solid-liquid interfacial free energy has been computed for the B2-liquid interface in the Cu-Zr system. Consistent with previous results for the FCC-liquid interface in Cu-Zr and Al-Sm but atypical of most alloys, was found to increase as the temperature is lowered. In addition, the temperature dependence was obtained for model Lennard-Jones B2-liquid alloys. In all cases the unusual temperature dependence of is correlated with an atomic structure of the interfacial region characterized by a misalignment of the number density peaks between solvents and solutes. In cases where the number density peaks are aligned, the typical temperature dependence is observed. The results are discussed in terms of the Gibbs theory of the thermodynamics of interfaces. It is proposed that the unique interfacial structure and the atypical temperature dependence of are hallmarks of an easy glass forming alloy. KW - Atomistic simulations KW - Interfacial free energy KW - Layering misalignment KW - Glass forming PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2021.117259 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 219 SP - 117259 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-53650 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Lei A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza T1 - Incorporating elasticity into CALPHAD-informed density-based grain boundary phase diagrams reveals segregation transition in Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Mg alloys N2 - The phase-like behavior of grain boundaries (GBs), recently evidenced in several materials, is opening up new possibilities in the design of alloy microstructures. In this context, GB phase diagrams are contributing to a predictive description of GB segregation and (interfacial) phase changes. The influence of chemo-mechanical solute-GB interactions on the GB phase diagram remains elusive so far. This is particularly important for multi-component alloys where the elastic interactions among solute atoms, of various sizes and bonding energies, can prevail, governing a complex co-segregation phenomenon. Recently, we developed a density-based model for GB thermodynamics that intrinsically accounts for GB elasticity in pure elements. In this work, we incorporate the homogeneous and heterogeneous elastic energies associated with the solutes into the density-based framework. We derive the multi-component homogeneous elastic energy by generalizing the continuum misfitting sphere model and extend it for GBs. The density-based free energy functional directly uses bulk CALPHAD thermodynamic data. The model is applied to binary and ternary Al alloys. We reveal that the elastic energy can profoundly affect the GB solubility and segregation behavior, leading to Cu segregation in otherwise Cu-depleted Al GBs. Consequently, GB segregation transition, i.e., a jump in the GB segregation as a function of alloy composition, is revealed in Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Mg alloy systems with implications for subsequent GB precipitation in these alloys. CALPHAD-informed elasticity-incorporated GB phase diagrams enable addressing a broader range of GB phenomena in engineering multi-component alloys. KW - Grain boundary thermodynamics KW - Density-based model KW - Al alloys KW - Grain boundary phase diagram KW - CALPHAD KW - Elastic energy PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2021.110717 VL - 199 SP - 110717 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-53058 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Lei A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza T1 - CALPHAD integrated grain boundary co-segregation design: Towards safe high-entropy alloys N2 - Along with the desire for developing novel multi-principal element alloys, also known as high-entropy alloys, the concern about their safe application is also increasingly growing. This relates to the alloys’ phase stability, in particular, the control required over unexpected phase decompositions resulting from solute segregation at grain boundaries. Yet, the mechanisms of co-segregation and grain boundary phase decomposition in multi-component alloys are rather challenging to explore. In fact, quantitative investigation of grain boundary behaviors is mostly conducted for binary and a few ternary alloys. In this work, we apply the recently introduced CALPHAD-integrated density-based formalism [RSC Advances 10 (2020) 26728-26741] for considering co-segregation phenomena in alloys with an arbitrary number of components —the term ‘co-segregation’ here refers to co-evolution and any mutual interplay among the solute atoms during their interaction with a grain boundary. Quaternary Fe-Co-Mn-Cr alloy system is studied. We present two major advances beyond previous results: First, a co-segregation-induced multi-component grain boundary spinodal decomposition is quantitatively simulated for the first time. We found that in addition to its low cohesive energy and asymmetrical mixing enthalpy due to magnetic ordering, Mn plays a leading role in triggering interfacial phase decomposition by having a relatively large, concentration-dependent atomic mobility. Second, as an alternative to grain boundary phase diagrams proposed for binary and ternary alloys, we introduce the concept of co-segregation maps for grain boundary segregation screening and design in multi-component alloys. Applying the co-segregation maps, the nonlinear Mn and Cr co-segregation are discussed. Depicted on the alloying composition and phase space, the co-segregation maps enable the required insights to guide a safer, more controlled design of high-entropy alloys. KW - High-Entropy Materials KW - Density-based Phase-Field Modelling KW - CALPHAD KW - Alloys' Safety PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.167717 SN - 0925-8388 VL - 933 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Elsevier CY - Lausanne AN - OPUS4-56274 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Lei A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza T1 - Density-based grain boundary phase diagrams: Application to Fe-Mn-Cr, Fe-Mn-Ni, Fe-Mn-Co, Fe-Cr-Ni and Fe-Cr-Co alloy systems N2 - Phase diagrams are the roadmaps for designing bulk phases. Similar to bulk, grain boundaries can possess various phases, but their phase diagrams remain largely unknown. Using a recently introduced density-based model, here we devise a strategy for computing multi-component grain boundary phase diagrams based on available bulk (CALPHAD) thermodynamic data. Fe-Mn-Cr, Fe-Mn-Ni, Fe-Mn-Co, Fe-Cr-Ni and Fe-Cr-Co alloy systems, as important ternary bases for several trending steels and high-entropy alloys, are studied. We found that despite its solute segregation enrichment, a grain boundary can have lower solubility limit than its corresponding bulk, promoting an interfacial chemical decomposition upon solute segregation. This is revealed here for the Fe-Mn-base alloy systems. The origins of this counter-intuitive feature are traced back to two effects, i.e., the magnetic ordering effect and the low cohesive energy of Mn solute element. Different aspects of interfacial phase stability and GB co-segregation in ternary alloys are investigated as well. We show that the concentration gradient energy contributions reduce segregation level but increase grain boundary solubility limit, stabilizing the GB against a chemical decomposition. Density-based grain boundary phase diagrams offer guidelines for systematic investigation of interfacial phase changes with applications to microstructure defects engineering. KW - Densty-based Thermodynamics KW - Microstrucrue Design KW - Grain Boundary Phase Diagram PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-522207 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2021.116668 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 207 SP - 116668 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-52220 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wallis, Theophilus A1 - Ratanaphan, Sutatch A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza T1 - Linking atomistic and phase-field modeling of grain boundaries I: Coarse-graining atomistic structures N2 - The longstanding gap between atomistic and mesoscale simulations partly lies in the absence of a direct, physically grounded connection between atomic structure and mesoscale fields. In this work, we present a robust coarse-graining approach to systematically investigate the connection between phase-field and atomistic simulations of grain boundaries (GBs). The atomistic structures of 408 GBs in BCC-Fe and -Mo were studies to compute and analyze a continuous atomic density field. We discover a fundamental relationship between the GB density---defined as the average atomic density at the GB plane---and the GB excess free volume, an integral property of the boundary. An almost perfect linear correlation between the GB atomic density and GB excess free volume is identified. We also show that the width of BCC GBs, when scaled by the lattice constant, approaches a universal constant value. The relationships among GB density, width, and energy are systematically examined for various GB planes, and the GB energy--density correlations are classified with respect to GB types. It turns out that the atomic planes forming the GB strongly influence both the GB density and excess volume. The current results establish a dependable framework to bridge across scales, enabling density-based phase-field modeling of GBs with atomistic fidelity and enhancing the predictive reliability of mesoscale simulations. KW - Density-based model KW - Grain boundary structure KW - Grain boundary thermodynamic KW - Atomistic simulations PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654872 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121786 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 305 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-65487 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wallis, Theophilus A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza T1 - Grain boundary structural variations amplify segregation transition and stabilize co-existing spinodal interfacial phases N2 - Grain boundaries (GBs)’s role in determining the functional and mechanical properties of polycrystalline materials is inscribed in both their structure and chemistry. Upon solute segregation, the structure and composition of a GB can change concurrently. We study the co-evolution of GB’s structure and segregation by enhancing the density-based phase-field model to account for the in-plane structural variations in the GB. Significant mutual coupling is revealed between the GB’s chemical and structural states during Mn segregation in Fe-Mn alloys. We found that the structural degrees of freedom in a GB (the ability of the GB structure to respond to the chemical variation) amplifies Mn segregation transition, even when the GB structure stays unchanged. When the GB structure is not uniform, that is the usual case, the coupling between GB structure and segregation evolution also enables the spinodally formed low- and high-Mn phases (upon segregation transition) to co-exist within the GB region. These findings explain the stabilizing mechanism of pronounced interfacial segregation fluctuations, experimentally evidenced in Fe-Mn GBs, and give new insights on the structural sensitivity of GBs’ segregation phenomena and the mutual chemo-structural interplay. KW - Grain boundary engineering KW - Segregation engineering KW - Grain boundary structure KW - Fe-Mn steels PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2022.118446 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 242 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-56160 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wallis, Theophilus A1 - Darvishi Kamachali, Reza T1 - Linking atomistic and phase-field modeling of grain boundaries II: Incorporating atomistic potentials into free energy functional N2 - The density-based phase-field model for grain boundary (GB) thermodynamics and kinetics has offered a broad range of applications in alloy and microstructure design. Originally, this model is based on a potential energy terms that is connected to the cohesive energy of a given substance. A more rigorous approach, however, is a full consideration of an interatomic potential over the possible range of distance and therefore density. In Manuscript I of this series, we developed and thoroughly analyzed the coarse-graining of atomistic GB structures. In this work (Manuscript II), we complete the coupling between atomic and mesoscale modeling of GBs by incorporating the full interatomic potentials into the density-based free energy functional. Using GB energies calculated from atomistic simulations, the coarse-graining approach and the atomistic-integrated density-based Gibbs free energy, we effectively evaluate the density gradient energy coefficient. We found that coupling the density-based model with atomistic potentials reveal physically-sound trends in the GB equilibrium properties. A universal equation was derived to describe the potential energy contribution to the GB energy and the gradient energy coefficient for BCC-Fe and -Mo GBs, similar to the universal equation for GB excess free volume presented in Manuscript I. The proposed approach provides a mesoscale density-based model rooted in atomic-scale characteristics for reliable predictions of GB properties. KW - Density-based model KW - Phase-field KW - Grain boundary structure KW - Grain boundary thermodynamics PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654904 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2025.121787 SN - 1359-6454 VL - 305 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-65490 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vogel, F. A1 - Ngai, S. A1 - Zhou, X. Y. A1 - Zaiser, E. A1 - Manzoni, Anna Maria A1 - Wu, Y. A1 - Zheng, W. W. A1 - Zhang, P. A1 - Thompson, G. B. T1 - Tracking maze-like hierarchical phase separation behavior in a Fe-Si-V alloy N2 - Optimizing the properties of next-generation high-temperature and corrosion-resistant alloys is rooted in balancing structure-property relationships and phase chemistry. Here, we implement a complementary approach based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atom probe tomography (APT) to ascertain aspects of hierarchical phase separation behavior, by understanding the microstructural evolution and the three-dimensional (3D) nanochemistry of a single crystal Fe79.5Si15.5V5.0 (at%) alloy. A maze-like hierarchical microstructure forms, in which a complex network of metastable disordered α plates (A2 phase) emerges within ordered α1 precipitates (D03 phase). The supersaturation in α1 (D03) precipitates with Fe and V drives the formation of α (A2) plates. The morphology of α (A2) plates is discussed concerning crystal structure, lattice misfit, and elastic strain. Phase compositions and a ternary phase diagram aid the thermodynamic assessment of the hierarchical phase separation mechanism via the Gibbs energy of mixing. A perspective on the stabilization of hierarchical microstructures beyond Fe79.5Si15.5V5.0 is elaborated by comparing hierarchical alloys. We find that the ratio of elastic anisotropy (Zener ratio) serves as a predictor of the hierarchical particles’ morphology. We suggest that the strengthening effect of hierarchical microstructures can be harnessed by improving the temporal and thermal stability of hierarchical particles. This can be achieved through phase-targeted alloying aiming at the hierarchical particles phase by considering the constituents partitioning behavior. Beyond Fe79.5Si15.5V5.0, our results demonstrate a potential pathway for improving the properties of high-temperature structural materials. KW - Atom probe tomography KW - Transmission electron microscopy KW - Hierarchical microstructure KW - Phase separation PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.172157 SN - 0925-8388 VL - 968 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-58343 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vogel, F. A1 - Cheng, J. A1 - Liang, S. B. A1 - Ke, C. B. A1 - Cao, S. S. A1 - Zhang, X. P. A1 - Zizak, I. A1 - Manzoni, Anna Maria A1 - Yu, J. M. A1 - Wanderka, N. A1 - Li, W. T1 - Formation and evolution of hierarchical microstructures in a Ni-based superalloy investigated by in situ high-temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction N2 - Hierarchical microstructures are created when additional γ particles form in γ’ precipitates and they are linked to improved strength and creep properties in high-temperature alloys. Here, we follow the formation and evolution of a hierarchical microstructure in Ni86.1Al8.5Ti5.4 by in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction at 1023 K up to 48 h to derive the lattice parameters of the γ matrix, γ’ precipitates and γ particles and misfits between phases. Finite element method-based computer simulations of hierarchical microstructures allow obtaining each phase's lattice parameter, thereby aiding peak identification in the in situ X-ray diffraction data. The simulations further give insight into the heterogeneous strain distribution between γ’ precipitates and γ particles, which gives rise to an anisotropic diffusion potential that drives the directional growth of γ particles. We rationalize a schematic model for the growth of γ particles, based on the Gibbs-Thomson effect of capillary and strain-induced anisotropic diffusion potentials. Our results highlight the importance of elastic properties, elastic anisotropy, lattice parameters, and diffusion potentials in controlling the behavior and stability of hierarchical microstructures. KW - XRD KW - Superalloy KW - Finite element method KW - Transmission electron microscopy PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.165845 SN - 0925-8388 VL - 919 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Elsevier CY - Lausanne AN - OPUS4-55394 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Valentini, Martino A1 - De Almeida, Olivier A1 - Kakkonen, Markus A1 - Kalinka, Gerhard A1 - Dorigato, Andrea A1 - Kallio, Pasi A1 - Fredi, Giulia T1 - Effect of fiber surface state on the thermomechanical and interfacial properties of in situ polymerized polyamide 6/basalt fiber composites N2 - This study investigates the thermomechanical properties and interfacial adhesion of novel in-situ polymerized anionic polyamide 6 (aPA6) composites reinforced with basalt fibers (BF). The impact of different BF surface states - as-received (BFa), ethanol-washed (BFw), and thermally desized (BFu) on composite performance is examined through a comprehensive approach. For the first time, anionic PA6/BF composites with very low residual monomer content were successfully produced via thermoplastic resin transfer molding (tRTM). The PA6/BFw composites exhibited the highest interlaminar/interfacial shear strength in short beam shear test (52 ±8 MPa) and fiber push out test (34 ± 11 MPa) tests. Fiber microdebonding test, performed only on PA6/BFw, yielded a low interfacial shear strength (12 ± 4 MPa), which was attributed to droplet porosity resulting from concurrent polymerization and crystallization. Thermal desizing significantly deteriorated interfacial strength (19.6 ± 1.2 MPa in short beam shear test). This multi-technique characterization provides insights into optimizing the fiber–matrix adhesion in these advanced thermoplastic composites. KW - Anionic Polyamide 6 KW - Reactive thermoplastics KW - Basalt fibers KW - Microdebonding KW - Fiber push out KW - Short beam shear test PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-623596 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2024.108681 SN - 1878-5840 VL - 190 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Niederlande AN - OPUS4-62359 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -