Formation of ordered and disordered interfacial films in immiscible metal alloys

Abstract

Atomistic simulations are used to study segregation-induced intergranular film formation in Cu-Zr and Cu-Nb alloys. While Cu-Zr forms structurally disordered or amorphous films, ordered films comprised of a second phase usually precipitate in Cu-Nb, with a critical nucleation size of ~1 nm below which the ordered phase cannot form. While the ordered film is retained at high temperature for a low energy Σ11 (113) boundary, a disordering transition is observed for a high energy Σ5 (310) boundary at low dopant concentrations. Finally, the effect of free surfaces on dopant segregation and intergranular film formation is investigated for both alloys.

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