arXiv subjects

Lukasz Kurpaska

Publications and source records attributed to Lukasz Kurpaska.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Role of chromium oxides and carbides in strengthening CoCrFeNi multi-principle element alloys

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) can potentially offer exceptional material properties, but their complex, costly manufacturing limits their scalability. Chemical complexity and complex manufacturing processes lead to the formation of some secondary phases, which have a significant impact on the final properties. In this work, chromium compound dispersoid enhancements (Cr- oxides and carbides) were formed in CoCrFeNi MPEAs to enhance their microstructural and high-temperature mechanical properties. A single FCC phase was observed in the arc melted (AM) samples, chromium oxides were detected in the gas-atomized (GA) samples, and Cr2O3 with Cr23C6 or Cr7C3 was found in the mechanically alloyed (MA)samples depending on the sintering temperature. Mechanical tests at room temperature and 575°C, where no phase evolution is expected, showed that the GA samples with oxides achieved enhanced mechanical properties at 575°C. This was co-induced by precipitation strengthening, recrystallization suppression, and twinning-induced plasticity. The MA samples with carbides exhibited high strength but low ductility, with Cr7C3 outperforming Cr23C6 because of its lower hardness and twinning effects. This work links chromium compound evolution to mechanical performance of MPEAs, offering insights to optimize HEA production for high-temperature applications through controlled phase formation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Nanoscale structure formation in nickel-aluminum alloys synthesized far from equilibrium

The present study reports on the structure formation in thin epitaxial nickel-aluminum films (Ni1-xAlx; Al atomic fraction x up to x=0.24) grown on MgO(001) substrates by magnetron sputtering. Experimental and computational data demonstrate that for x<0.11, the films exhibit the face-centered cubic random solid-solution Ni1-xAlx structure (γ). Whereas in the range x=0.11-0.24 the phase coexists with the ordered L12 structure (γ' phase). The two phases are homogenously intermixed forming a coherent and strained nano-solution, which exhibits a single lattice parameter that expands as the Al content increases. Isothermal annealing of films containing x=0.14 of Al, coupled with structural and nano-mechanical characterization, reveal that the nano-solution retains its overall integrity for temperatures up to 673 K, while the film hardness increases from 5.5 GPa (as deposited films) to 6 GPa. Further increase of the annealing temperature to 873 K and 1073 K causes the nano-solution to dissolve into distinct γ and γ' phase domains and the hardness to decrease down to values of 4 GPa. These findings confirm the metastable nature of the as-deposited thin Ni1-xAlx alloy films and underpin the effectiveness of high supersaturation/undercooling for creating non-equilibrium phases and self-organized nanostructures upon synthesis of multicomponent materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Designing cobalt-free face-centered cubic high-entropy alloys: A strategy using d-orbital energy level

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are promising materials for high-temperature structural applications such as nuclear reactors due to their outstanding mechanical properties and thermal stability. Instead of the trial-and-error method, it is efficient to design and prepare single-phase face-centered cubic (FCC) structured HEAs using semi-empirical phase formation rules. However, almost all of phase formation rules were proposed without taking into account the cobalt-free situation. The HEAs containing cobalt are unsuitable for nuclear applications because of the long-term activation of cobalt. Here, six parameters, d-orbital energy level, valance electron concentration, entropy of mixing, enthalpy of mixing, atom size differences, and parameter of the entropy of mixing (Ω) were calculated to determine the solid solution phase, especially the FCC phase formation rules in cobalt-free HEAs. HEAs of 4 components were arc melted to verify the newly developed phase formation rules. The nanomechanical properties of produced HEAs were evaluated using nanoindentation. Among the six parameters, the d-orbital energy level and valance electron concentration are the critical factors that determine the FCC phase stability in cobalt-free alloys. Interestingly, the d-orbital energy level can be alone used as a benchmark for developing mechanical properties.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Structure, corrosion resistance and nanomechanical properties of CoCrFeNiX (X=Nb,Mo,B,Si) high entropy alloys

In this work, the four high entropy CoCrFeNiX alloys (X=Mo,Nb,B,Si) were prepared by induction melting to comparatively analyse their structure, nanomechanical properties, and corrosion resistance in the chloride ion environment. The CoCrFeNiNb and CoCrFeNiMo alloys are composed of FCC solid solution and intermetallic phases (TM)2Nb and Cr-Mo-TM. In the case of the CoCrFeNiB alloy, a complex phase structure was revealed, consisting of FCC solid solution and three types of borides. In turn, the addition of Si substantially altered the phase composition of the CoCrFeNi alloy, resulting in the formation of two intermetallic phases. The corrosion behaviour of the alloys was studied in 3.5 and 5% NaCl solutions. The highest corrosion resistance in both solutions used characterize the CoCrFeNiSi alloy, showing the lowest corrosion current density and the most positive corrosion potential values. For measurements in 5% NaCl solution, icorr and Ecorr were equal to 0.24 microA/cm2 and -0.136 V. Currently, the least favourable corrosion parameters were recorded for the CoCrFeNiMo alloy. The results of EIS measurements confirmed the high protective abilities of passive film formed on the CoCrFeNiSi alloy surface. The highest strength properties were shown by the alloys with the addition of metalloids. For the CoCrFeNiSi alloy, the highest nanohardness value was obtained (above 15 GPa), while the CoCrFeNiB showed the highest Young modulus (above 275 GPa).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Study of amorphous alumina coatings for next-generation nuclear reactors: hightemperature in-situ and post-mortem Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction

The present work focuses on the investigation of the thermal stability and structural integrity of amorphous alumina coatings intended for use as protective coatings on cladding tubes in Generation IV nuclear reactors, specifically in the Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) type. Hightemperature Raman spectroscopy and high-temperature X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out up to 1050 C on a 5 um coating deposited by the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique on a 316L steel substrate. The experiments involved the in-situ examination of structural changes in the material under increasing temperature, along with ex-situ Raman imaging of the surface and cross-section of the coating after thermal treatments of different lengths. As it was expected, the presence of alpha-alumina was detected with the addition of other polymorphs, gamma- and theta-Al2O3, found in the material after longer high-temperature exposure. The use of two structural analysis methods and two lasers excitation wavelengths with Raman spectroscopy allowed us to detect all the mentioned phases despite different mode activity. Alumina analysis was based on the emission spectra, while substrate oxidation products were identified through the structural bands. The experiments depicted a dependence of the phase composition of oxidation products and alumina's degree of crystallization on the length of the treatment. Nevertheless, the observed structural changes did not occur rapidly, and the coating's integrity remained intact. Moreover, oxidation signs occurred locally at temperatures exceeding the LFR reactor's working temperature, confirming the material's great potential as a protective coating in the operational conditions of LFR nuclear reactors.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Prediction of steel nanohardness by using graph neural networks on surface polycrystallinity maps

As a bulk mechanical property, nanoscale hardness in polycrystalline metals is strongly dependent on microstructural features that are believed to be heavily influenced from complex features of polycrystallinity -- namely, individual grain orientations and neighboring grain properties. We train a graph neural network (GNN) model, with each grain center location being a graph node, to assess the predictability of micromechanical responses of nano-indented low-carbon 310S stainless steel (alloyed with Ni and Cr) surfaces, solely based on surface polycrystallinity, captured by electron backscatter diffraction maps. The grain size distribution ranges between $1-100~μ$m, with mean grain size at $18~μ$m. The GNN model is trained on a set of nanomechanical load-displacement curves, obtained from nanoindentation tests and is subsequently used to make predictions of nano-hardness at various depths, with sole input being the grain locations and orientations. Model training is based on a sub-standard set of $\sim10^2$ hardness measurements, leading to an overall satisfactory performance. We explore model performance and its dependence on various structural/topological grain-level descriptors, such as the grain size and number of nearest neighbors. Analogous GNN model frameworks may be utilized for quick, inexpensive hardness estimates, for guidance to detailed nanoindentation experiments, akin to cartography tool developments in the world exploration era.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗