Ústav fyziky materiálů

Nejnovější přírůstky:
2024-07-27
00:02
QUANTUM-MECHANICAL STUDY OF INTERNAL STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN Pb-SUPERSATURATED Pb-Sn ALLOYS
Friák, Martin ; Čípek, Petr ; Pavlů, J. ; Roupcová, Pavla ; Miháliková, Ivana ; Msallamová, Š. ; Michalcová, A.
Motivated by a decades-long controversy related to the crystal structure of Pb-supersaturated solid solutions of Pb in Sn, we have performed a quantum-mechanical study of these materials. Focusing on both body-centred-tetragonal beta-Sn and simple-hexagonal gamma-Sn structures, we have computed properties of two alloys with the chemical composition Pb5Sn11, i.e. 31.25 at. % Pb, which is close to the composition of the experimentally found alloy (30 at. % Pb). The 16-atom computational supercells were designed as multiples of the elemental beta- and gamma-Sn unit cells, where the Pb atoms were distributed according to the special quasi-random structure (SQS) concept. Full structural relaxations of both beta- and gamma-phase-based alloys resulted in very significant re-arrangements into structures which do not exhibit any apparent structural features typical for the original alloys, and are, therefore, difficult to classify. The formation energies of the beta- and gamma-phase-originating equilibrium phases are 50 meV/atom and 53 meV/atom, respectively. Therefore, they are not stable with respect to the decomposition into the elemental lead and tin. Moreover, our calculations of elastic constants of both phases revealed that they are close to mechanical instability. Our results indicate that the studied Pb-supersaturated Pb-Sn solid solutions may be prone to structural instability, transformations into different phases and decomposition. Our findings may contribute into the identification of the reason why the subsequent experimental studies did not reproduce the initial published data.

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2024-07-27
00:02
QUANTUM-COMPUTING STUDY OF THE ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF CRYSTALS: THE CASE STUDY OF SI
Ďuriška, Michal ; Miháliková, Ivana ; Friák, Martin
Quantum computing is newly emerging information-processing technology which is foreseen to be exponentially faster than classical supercomputers. Current quantum processors are nevertheless very limited in their availability and performance and many important software tools for them do not exist yet. Therefore, various systems are studied by simulating the run of quantum computers. Building upon our previous experience with quantum computing of small molecular systems (see I. Mihalikova et al., Molecules 27 (2022) 597, and I. Mihalikova et al., Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 243), we have recently focused on computing electronic structure of periodic crystalline materials. Being inspired by the work of Cerasoli et al. (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 21816), we have used hybrid variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithm, which combined classical and quantum information processing. Employing tight-binding type of crystal description, we present our results for crystalline diamond-structure silicon. In particular, we focus on the states along the lowest occupied band within the electronic structure of Si and compare the results with values obtained by classical means. While we demonstrate an excellence agreement between classical and quantum-computed results in most of our calculations, we further critically check the sensitivity of our results with respect to computational set-up in our quantum-computing study. A few results were obtained also using quantum processors provided by the IBM.

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2024-07-27
00:02
EFFECT OF STEEL COMPOSITION ON ITS BEHAVIOUR IN THE LIQUID LEAD ENVIRONMENT
Pazderova, M. ; Hojná, A. ; Vít, J. ; Hadraba, Hynek ; Čižek, J.
Ferritic-martensitic Eurofer-97 and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) Eurofer steels are potential candidates for structural applications in advanced nuclear reactors. Influence of scandium, yttrium, and aluminum addition was studied at 600 degrees C using 10-6 wt.% oxygen concentration. Microstructure and corrosion behaviour was evaluated after 500 h and 1000 h of exposure to liquid lead. Microscopical investigation identified oxidation, solution- based attack, and Pb penetration into the material. Addition of scandium and aluminum changed the mechanism of corrosion attack. Eurofer-97 was partially protected by outer oxide and inner oxidation and Pb penetration was found. In contrast ODS-Eurofer steels after 1000 h of exposure showed mainly inner oxidation and SBA including Pb penetration into the steel. The inner oxidation consisted of Pb+Cr-O and Cr-O+Al-O layers mixture. Degradation of ODS steel was significantly lower than Eurofer-97. It seems that the inner oxidation layer beneath the surface did not prevent the Pb penetration but protected the surface from dissolution.

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2024-07-27
00:02
MINOR PHASES IN TIN-RICH HISTORICAL MATERIALS
Michalcová, A. ; Msallamová, Š. ; Fink, D. ; Friák, Martin
The historical organ pipes used to be manufactured from tin and tin-lead alloys. The tin-rich organ pipes usually contained copper as alloying elements, which make them similar to modern lead free soldering materials. The historical organ pipe materials can be used as model materials for natural ageing of soldering materials. Tin pest is a term for modification from white tin to grey tin, which leads to degradation of tin or tin-rich alloys. The influence of individual alloying elements has not been reliably described, yet. Not only on the concentration of the alloying element, but also the distribution may play the important role. In dependence on heat-treatment, the Cu can be in the Sn matrix present in these forms: i) as large intermetallic particles after casting (Cu6Sn5), ii) as solid solution after homogenization annealing and iii) as fine precipitates after ageing. The microstructure of the real historical organ-pipes material was studied and it was proven that contradictionary to the equilibrium phase diagram the Cu enriched was observed.

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2024-07-27
00:02
EFFECT OF OXIDE DISPERSION ON ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY OF ROTARY SWAGED POWDER-BASED COPPER COMPOSITES
Kunčická, Lenka ; Benč, Marek ; Kačor, P. ; Marek, M.
Copper is a very popular electro-conductive material, however, the mechanical properties of pure Cu are low. They can be typically improved by (micro)alloying, or via structure modifications introduced by optimized deformation and thermomechanical treatments. Designing a Cu-based composite, possibly strengthened by a dispersion of fine oxides, is another way how to favourably improve the strength properties of Cu. In this study, we performed mechanical alloying of a Cu powder with a powder of Al2O3 oxide, which is known to have strengthening effects on metallic materials. After mixing, we sealed the powder mixture into evacuated tubular Cu containers (i.e. cans). As for the consolidation procedure, we applied direct consolidation of the canned powders via the intensive plastic deformation method of rotary swaging, performed under warm conditions. Subsequently, we subjected the swaged conductors to measurements of electric conductivity and detailed structure observations. The results revealed that the applied swaging ratio was sufficient to fully consolidate the canned powders as the final conductor was unrecognizable from a cast alloy from the viewpoints of visual and structure assessment. In other words, the structure did not exhibit any voids or remnants of unconsolidated powder particles. The observed fine grains with homogeneous dispersion of Al2O3 oxide particles provided improvement of the mechanical properties, as proven by microhardness measurements. Moreover, the electric properties remained favourable.

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2024-06-30
06:40
ENHANCING WELD JOINT INTEGRITY IN S460 HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL PLATES: AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
Al Khazali, Mohammad Sami ; Malíková, Lucie ; Křivý, V. ; Seitl, Stanislav
Exploring S460 steel, this research assesses weld toe microstructure and fatigue. It finds that welding affects \nhardness of welded area and fatigue life. These insights are crucial for structural engineering, optimizing welding \npractices for longevity. \nTests confirm increased weld toe hardness correlates with fatigue resistance. This informs design strategies, \nensuring bridge safety under cyclic loads. The study advances understanding of HSS behaviour, influencing future \nwelding techniques.

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2024-04-27
00:01
Nanoparticels from brake pads wear
Švábenská, Eva ; Roupcová, Pavla ; Friák, Martin ; Schneeweiss, Oldřich
Exposure to particulate air pollution has been associated with a variety of health problems. One of the main\nsources of metal-rich airborne particulate pollution in roadside environments are brake-wear emissions. The \nscanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mössbauer spectroscopy \n(MS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) was used to a make quantitative evaluation of wear particles in two \nsamples. Sizes, morphologies, oxidation state, and trace element compositions of wear particles were\ninvestigated using combination of several methods revealed high concentrations of Fe species and phases, \noften associated with carbonaceous material. SEM and TEM observations show that brake wear particles with \na size of tens to hundreds of nm mainly form particle agglomerates. However, ultrafine (<100 nm) particles are \nlikely to pose a health threat after inhalation and/or ingestion.

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2024-04-27
00:01
Inverse-Heusler Mn2FeSi alloy prepared by powder metallurgy route
Životský, O. ; Skotnicová, K. ; Čegan, T. ; Juřica, J. ; Gembalová, L. ; Zažímal, František ; Jirásková, Yvonna ; Szurman, I.
The Mn2FeSi inverse-Heusler alloy was prepared by solid-state reactions using ball milling for 168 h in n hexane. Two milling procedures varying in the ball-to-powder ratio, namely 4:1 and 10:1, were used to follow \ntheir influence on alloy formation and its physical properties. In both cases no Heusler structure was obtained \ndirectly and therefore the subsequent annealing at 1223 K for 1.5 h in pure Ar was applied. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis resulted in the chemical composition about 49.0-49.9 at% Mn, 25.3-25.6 at% Fe, and \n24.8-25.4 at% Si, in a good agreement with nominal one. X-ray diffraction of both powders confirmed inverse Heusler XA structure of lattice parameters 0.5675 nm (4:1) and 0.5677 nm (10:1), only slightly higher as \ntheoretically obtained 0.560 nm. The presence of minor oxidation phases was also observed in the particle \nstructure of powders. Magnetic properties were analysed at low and room temperatures. Both alloys exhibit \nparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature confirmed by transmission Mössbauer spectroscopy \nmeasurements. Different magnetic behaviour of alloys is observed below 65 K.

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2024-04-27
00:01
Multi-parameter MTS and SED criterion applied on a crack in an alkali-activated concrete specimen under mixed-mode loading
Malíková, Lucie ; Miarka, Petr ; Šimonová, H.
The paper is devoted to an analysis of a crack propagation in a semi-circular concrete specimen under three-point bending. I+II mixed-mode loading is ensured via an inclined crack. Crack deflection angle is investigated by means of the generalized/multi-parameter form of the Maximum Tangential Stress (MTS) criterion and Strain Energy Density (SED) criterion as well as experimentally. The multi-parameter fracture mechanics concept applied in this work is based on the approximation of the crack-tip stress field by means of the Williams series expansion (WE). It has been proved that this approach can help to describe crack behavior in some kinds of materials better than the classical (one-parameter: stress intensity factor) fracture mechanics. This conclusion is discussed also in this paper.

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2024-04-15
12:40
PROPERTIES OF NANOCRYSTALLINE FE-NI PARTICLES PREPARED BY THERMAL REDUCTION OF OXALATE PRECURSORS
Švábenská, Eva ; Roupcová, Pavla ; Havlíček, Lubomír ; Schneeweiss, Oldřich
Recent technological advancements require development of cost-effective and high-performance magnets \nwhich ideally do not contain rare earth metals or noble metals. The promising candidates are Fe-Ni-based \nalloys, in particular, the Fe50Ni50 L10 phase (tetrataenite), which has a great perspective for producing hard \nmagnetic materials. Our study explores a promising method for preparing nanoparticles of Fe-Ni alloy from an \niron-nickel oxalate precursor. The coprecipitation method was employed to prepare oxalate precursors, \nfollowed by controlled thermal decomposition in a reducing hydrogen atmosphere. The morphology and \nproperties of the resulting particles were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with \nenergy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), and \nmagnetic measurements.\nThe SEM analysis revealed that the particles have approximately cube-shaped unit cell morphology with a\nsize in a range of 1 - 2 μm. Upon annealing, the samples contain multiple phases with varying Fe-Ni content.\nMagnetic measurements confirmed the formation of magnetically suitable Fe-Ni phases in the samples after \nannealing. Mössbauer spectroscopy emerged as a highly effective method for characterizing individual phases \nof the Fe-Ni system.

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