arXiv subjects

Christian H. Liebscher

Publications and source records attributed to Christian H. Liebscher.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Aluminum depletion induced by complex co-segregation of carbon and boron in a Σ 5 [3 1 0] bcc-iron grain boundary

The local variation of grain boundary atomic structure and chemistry caused by segregation of impurities influences the macroscopic properties of poylcrystalline materials. Here, the effect of co-segregation of carbon and boron on the depletion of aluminum at a $Σ5\,(3\,1\,0\,) [0\,0\,1]$ tilt grain boundary in a $α-$Fe-$4~at.~\%$Al bicrystal was studied by combining atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography and density functional theory calculations. The atomic grain boundary structural units mostly resemble kite-type motifs and the structure appears disrupted by atomic scale defects. Atom probe tomography reveals that carbon and boron impurities are co-segregating to the grain boundary reaching levels of >1.5 at.\%, whereas aluminum is locally depleted by approx. 2~at.\%. First-principles calculations indicate that carbon and boron exhibit the strongest segregation tendency and their repulsive interaction with aluminum promotes its depletion from the grain boundary. It is also predicted that substitutional segregation of boron atoms may contribute to local distortions of the kite-type structural units. These results suggest that the co-segregation and interaction of interstitial impurities with substitutional solutes strongly influences grain boundary composition and with this the properties of the interface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Strain-Rate-Dependent Deformation Behavior of Ti29Zr24Nb23Hf24 High Entropy Alloys at Elevated and Room Temperature

We investigate the strain-rate-dependent mechanical behavior and deformation mechanisms of a refractory high entropy alloy, Ti29Zr24Nb23Hf24 (at.%), with a single-phase body-centered cubic (BCC) structure. High-temperature compression tests were conducted at temperatures from 700 to 1100°C at strain rates ranging from 10-3 to 10 s-1. A sudden stress drop after yield point was observed at higher temperatures and lower strain rates with the Zener-Holloman parameter, lnZ, in the range of 17.2-20.7. Such a softening behavior can be related to the interaction of dislocations with short-range clustering. However, at higher strain rates or lower temperatures (lnZ>25.0), kink bands were activated being responsible for the continuous strengthening of the alloy in competition with the softening mechanism. Systematic TEM investigations reveal that dislocation walls formed along {110} planes and dislocation loops were observed at a low strain of 6% at a high strain rate of 1 s-1 and 800°C. Kink band induced dynamic recrystallization is evident upon further straining. On the other hand, at low strain rate of 10-3 s-1 and 800°C, discontinuous recrystallization mechanisms become dominant with arrays of dislocations forming in front of the bulged boundaries of parent grains. These sub-grain boundaries eventually turn into high-angle grain boundaries. We also investigate the deformation mechanism of the alloy under extremely high strain rate (103 s-1) at room temperature. The specimen exhibits extensive kink bands with arrays of dislocation walls. As further strained, multiple slip systems can be activated and the interaction of dislocation walls plays a vital role in the strain hardening of the alloy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Faceting diagram for Ag segregation induced nanofaceting at an asymmetric Cu tilt grain boundary

In this work, we experimentally establish the isothermal nanofacet evolution at an asymmetric tilt grain boundary in the Cu-Ag system using a diffusion couple approach. We investigate the nanofacet formation along the grain boundary in dependence of the Ag solute excess concentration. The initial grain boundary dissociates into asymmetric Ag-lean segments and Ag-rich symmetric (210) segments. Increasing Ag excess leads to an increase in Ag-rich facet segment length, while the length of the asymmetric facets remains constant. From this, we construct a grain boundary nanofaceting diagram deduced from our experiments relating local atomic structure, overall inclination and Ag solute excess.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Early stage phase separation of AlCoCr0.75Cu0.5FeNi high-entropy powder at the nanoscale

High entropy alloys are generally considered to be single phase material. This state is, however, typically a non-equilibrium state after fabrication at high cooling rates. Phase constitution after fabrication or heat treatment is mostly known for isothermal annealing only and for casts as well as rapidly quenched alloys. Knowledge on early phase separation stages of high entropy alloys and their mechanisms are missing so far. Here, we present results on phase separation at intermediate cooling rates, by characterization of gas atomized powder of the AlCoCr0.75Cu0.5FeNi alloy. Although investigation by X-ray diffraction and Electron Backscatter Diffraction indicates a single-phase nature of the powder particles, aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography reveal a nanoscale phase separation into Ni-Al-rich B2 and Fe-Cr-rich A2 regions as well as a high number density of 3.1x1024 Cu-rich clusters per m3 in the B2 matrix. The observed phase separation and cluster formation are linked to spinodal decomposition and nucleation processes, respectively. The study highlights that adequate characterization techniques need to be chosen when making statements about phase stability and structural evolution in compositionally complex alloys.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Could face-centered cubic titanium in cold-rolled commercially-pure titanium only be a Ti-hydride?

A face-centered cubic (FCC) phase in electro-polished specimens for transmission electron microscopy of commercially pure titanium has sometimes been reported. Here, a combination of atom-probe tomography, scanning transmission electron microscopy and low-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy is employed to study both the crystal structural and chemical composition of this FCC phase. Our results prove that the FCC phase is actually a TiHx (x>1) hydride, and not a new allotrope of Ti, in agreement with previous reports. The formation of the hydride is discussed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Joint non-rigid image registration and reconstruction for quantitative atomic resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy

Aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEM) enable to determine local strain fields, composition and bonding states at atomic resolution. The precision to locate atomic columns is often obstructed by scan artifacts limiting the quantitative interpretation of STEM datasets. Here, a novel bias-corrected non-rigid registration approach is presented that compensates for fast and slow scan artifacts in STEM image series. The bias-correction is responsible for the correction of the slow scan artifacts and based on a explicit coupling of the deformations of the individual images in a series via a minimization of the average deformation. This allows to reduce fast scan noise in an image series and slow scan distortions simultaneously. The novel approach is tested on synthetic and experimental images and its implication on atomic resolution strain and elemental mapping is discussed.

physics.app-ph↗