Temperature controlled martensitic phase transformations in a model NiAl alloy

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The correlations with identity companion automorphism, of finite Desarguesian planes

AbstractAs a first step towards the general classification of correlations of finite Desarguesian planes, we present, up to isomorphism, all the correlations with identity companion automorphism which are not polarities, of such planes

Three-Dimensional Elastic Compatibility: Twinning in Martensites

We show how the St.Venant compatibility relations for strain in three dimensions lead to twinning for the cubic to tetragonal transition in martensitic materials within a Ginzburg-Landau model in terms of the six components of the symmetric strain tensor. The compatibility constraints generate an anisotropic long-range interaction in the order parameter (deviatoric strain) components. In contrast to two dimensions, the free energy is characterized by a "landscape" of competing metastable states. We find a variety of textures, which result from the elastic frustration due to the effects of compatibility. Our results are also applicable to structural phase transitions in improper ferroelastics such as ferroelectrics and magnetoelastics, where strain acts as a secondary order parameter

Anomalous phonon behavior in the high temperature shape memory alloy: TiPd:Cr

Ti50 Pd50-xCrx is a high temperature shape memory alloy with a martensitic transformation temperature strongly dependent on the Cr composition. Prior to the transformation a premartensitic phase is present with an incommensurate modulated cubic lattice with wave vector of q0=(0.22, 0.22, 0). The temperature dependence of the diffuse scattering in the cubic phase is measured as a function temperature for x=6.5, 8.5, and 10 at. %. The lattice dynamics has been studied and reveals anomalous temperature and q-dependence of the [110]-TA2 transverse phonon branch. The phonon linewidth is broad over the entire Brillouin zone and increases with decreasing temperature, contrary to the behavior expected for anharmonicity. No anomaly is observed at q0. The results are compared with first principles calculation of the phonon structure.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figure

Disorder-Driven Pretransitional Tweed in Martensitic Transformations

Defying the conventional wisdom regarding first--order transitions, {\it solid--solid displacive transformations} are often accompanied by pronounced pretransitional phenomena. Generally, these phenomena are indicative of some mesoscopic lattice deformation that ``anticipates'' the upcoming phase transition. Among these precursive effects is the observation of the so-called ``tweed'' pattern in transmission electron microscopy in a wide variety of materials. We have investigated the tweed deformation in a two dimensional model system, and found that it arises because the compositional disorder intrinsic to any alloy conspires with the natural geometric constraints of the lattice to produce a frustrated, glassy phase. The predicted phase diagram and glassy behavior have been verified by numerical simulations, and diffraction patterns of simulated systems are found to compare well with experimental data. Analytically comparing to alternative models of strain-disorder coupling, we show that the present model best accounts for experimental observations.Comment: 43 pages in TeX, plus figures. Most figures supplied separately in uuencoded format. Three other figures available via anonymous ftp

Effect of amorphous-crystalline interfaces on the martensitic transformation in Ti 50 Ni 25 Cu 25

Abstract A partially crystallized amorphous Ti 50 Ni 25 Cu 25 melt-spun ribbon showing spherical particles in martensite has been investigated. Microstructural observations support the hindering of the martensitic transformation as well as the production of additional autoaccommodated structures nearby the interface compared with the ones used inwards

Dislocation structures and the role of grain boundaries in cyclically deformed Ni micropillars

Transmission electron microscopy and finite element-based dislocation simulations were combined to study the development of dislocation microstructures after cyclic deformation of single crystal and bicrystal Ni micropillars oriented for multi-slip. A direct correlation between large accumulation of plastic strain and the presence of dislocation cell walls in the single crystal micropillars was observed, while the presence of the grain boundary hampered the formation of wall-like structures in agreement with a smaller accumulated plastic strain. Automated crystallographic orientation and nanostrain mapping using transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of lattice heterogeneities associated to the cell walls including long range elastic strain fields. By combining the nanostrain mapping with an inverse modelling approach, information about dislocation density, line orientation and Burgers vector direction was derived, which is not accessible otherwise in such dense dislocation structures. Simulations showed that the image forces associated with the grain boundary in this specific bicrystal configuration have only a minor influence on dislocation behavior. Thus, the reduced occurrence of “mature” cell walls in the bicrystal can be attributed to the available volume, which is too small to accommodate cell structures

Microstructure and precipitates in annealed Co38Ni33Al29 ferromagnetic shape memory alloy

Transmission electron microscopy was performed to investigate the microstructure and precipitates in the annealed Co38Ni33Al29 ferromagnetic shape memory alloy. Apart from the dendritic secondary phase in the austenite matrix, micron-sized (up to 100 μm) fcc-based precipitates with partial γ′ L12 ordering and containing none, one or three {1 1 1}p parallel twin planes were found. The orientation relationship between the precipitates and matrix was found to be Kurdjumov–Sachs. STEM–EDX analysis indicates that twinned and non-twinned precipitates are Co-rich and Al- and Ni-deficient with respect to the matrix and with a lower Co/Al ratio for the latter. The 3D morphologies of precipitates were reconstructed with focused ion beam/scanning electron microscope dual-beam slice-and-view imaging, showing that the single {1 1 1}p plane twinned precipitates have a plate-like shape while the non-twinned precipitates are lath-like and often bent

Utility of Hybrid Transferrin Binding Protein Antigens for Protection Against Pathogenic Neisseria Species

The surface transferrin receptor proteins from Neisseria gonorrhoeae have been recognized as ideal vaccine targets due to their critical role in survival in the human male genitourinary tract. Recombinant forms of the surface lipoprotein component of the receptor, transferrin binding protein B (TbpB), can be readily produced at high levels in the Escherichia coli cytoplasm and is suitable for commercial vaccine production. In contrast, the integral outer membrane protein, transferrin binding protein A (TbpA), is produced at relatively low levels in the outer membrane and requires detergents for solubilization and stabilization, processes not favorable for commercial applications. Capitalizing on the core β-barrel structural feature common to the lipoprotein and integral outer membrane protein we engineered the lipoprotein as a scaffold for displaying conserved surface epitopes from TbpA. A stable version of the C-terminal domain of TbpB was prepared by replacing four larger exposed variable loops with short linking peptide regions. Four surface regions from the plug and barrel domains of Neisseria TbpA were transplanted onto this TbpB C-lobe scaffold, generating stable hybrid antigens. Antisera generated in mice and rabbits against the hybrid antigens recognized TbpA at the surface of Neisseria meningitidis and inhibited transferrin-dependent growth at levels comparable or better than antisera directed against the native TbpA protein. Two of the engineered hybrid antigens each elicited a TbpA-specific bactericidal antibody response comparable to that induced by TbpA. A hybrid antigen generated using a foreign scaffold (TbpB from the pig pathogen Haemophilus parasuis) displaying neisserial TbpA loop 10 was evaluated in a model of lower genital tract colonization by N. gonorrhoeae and a model of invasive infection by N. meningitidis. The loop 10 hybrid antigen was as effective as full length TbpA in eliminating N. gonorrhoeae from the lower genital tract of female mice and was protective against the low dose invasive infection by N. meningitidis. These results demonstrate that TbpB or its derivatives can serve as an effective scaffold for displaying surface epitopes of integral outer membrane antigens and these antigens can elicit protection against bacterial challenge