Gold (Au) segregation at Pt grain boundaries (GBs) plays an important role in the properties of Pt-based alloys. It was reported that close-packed GBs and open GBs exhibit different segregation behaviors, and their origin is still unclear. Based on the density functional theory as implemented in the exact muffin-tin orbitals method and the full charge density technique, we investigate the impact of bulk composition and temperature on the segregation behaviors of the Σ 3 ( 111 ) [ 1 1 ¯ 0 ] , Σ5(310)[001], and Σ 9 ( 221 ) [ 1 1 ¯ 0 ] symmetric tilt GBs in Pt-Au alloys. It is revealed that the segregation driving forces are correlated with the large local volume near the GB and the miscibility gap in Pt-Au alloys. At finite temperatures when the configurational entropy is considered, a competition between the chemical driving force and the configurational entropy is responsible for the segregation anisotropy in Pt-Au alloys. The bulk composition has a small effect on the segregation energy but strongly impacts the equilibrium concentration profiles at finite temperatures. The present study provides a theoretical analysis for the segregation anisotropy, and the methodology utilized in this work can be generalized to other binary or multi-component dilute or concentrated alloys while the composition variation is involved.

The thermodynamic and mechanical properties of the L1(2) Co3Al3 type of compounds are fundamental for understanding and designing Co-based superalloys. In these systems, both compositional and magnetic changes can occur upon service due to the elevated temperature. Here, using first-principle calculations, we study the bulk properties of three families of Co-3 Al-based compounds: Co1-xNix)(3)Al(0 <= x <= 0.5),Co-3(Al1-yWy)(0 <= y <= 1), and(Co0.5Ni0.5)(3)(Al0.5TizTa0.5-z)(0 <= z <= 0.5). The calculated lattice constants, Curie temperatures, and formation energies show good agreement with the limited available theoretical and experimental data. Our results reveal the impact of chemistry and magnetism on the elastic parameters. We find that both chemical composition and magnetic state alter the elastic parameters and the elastic anisotropy, which in turn makes the predictions based on common ductile-brittle criteria challenging. We separate the volume and chemical effects for both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states and show that in most cases, the chemical effect gives the dominant contribution to the alloying trends in the elastic parameters. The present findings reveal the complex relationship between alloying elements and elastic parameters in the Co-3 Al- based precipitates, providing insights into their mechanical properties for engineering applications.

First-principles calculations were performed to investigate the elastic and thermodynamic properties for multi-component Co-based superalloy systems and explored the effect of alloying on stabilizing the γ′ phase. First, the comparisons were carried out for the γ′ phase in Co3(Al,TM) (TM being transition metals) and Ni3Al systems between the present computational results using the EMTO-CPA method and other available DFT calculations as well as experimental data. The lattice parameters, elastic constants, and Debye temperatures are consistent with experimental results and other calculations. The predicted thermodynamic properties, e.g., the Gibbs free energy, excess entropy, and linear thermal expansion coefficient, agree well with CALPHAD results, experimental results, and other available first-principles calculations. A combination of EMTO-CPA method and Debye–Grüneisen model is utilized in this work to ensure that the alloying effect on the stability of the γ′ phase in a multi-component Co-based system is captured efficiently. This could open the path for designing novel multi-component Co-based alloys based on first-principles calculation. To demonstrate this, predictions for the properties of multicomponent systems were undertaken. Our results show that Ni aids in the stabilization of the (CoNi)3(Al, Mo, Nb) phase. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

In a previous work [El-Tahawy et al., J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 560, 169660 (2022)], we reported that from a sulfate type bath, hcp-Co can be electrodeposited at high pH and low current density and investigated the structure and magnetoresistance (MR) characteristics of such hcp-Co electrodeposits. Based on this earlier work, Co-rich Co-Cu and Co-Ni alloy electrodeposits were prepared under the same conditions by adding varying amounts of CuSO4 and NiSO4, respectively, to the CoSO4 bath. According to the results of detailed structural studies by various X-ray diffraction (XRD) geometries, in both the Co-Cu and Co-Ni systems an hcp phase formed exclusively up to about 2 at% of the alloying element. Above this concentration, a significant fcc phase fraction appeared in Co-Cu and a minor fcc fraction in Co-Ni up to about 8 at%. This means that the destabilization effect of Cu on hcp-Co is higher than that of Ni. Although the reduction of the stability of hcp-Co with increasing Cu and Ni content is a well-known phenomenon, a quantitative comparison of this effect in Co-Cu and Co-Ni alloys is missing from the literature. The measured lattice constants are analyzed in comparison with Vegard's law for the Co-Cu and Co-Ni element pairs deduced from data previously reported for the hcp and fcc phases of all three pure elements. For Co-rich Co-Ni alloys, the concentration dependence of the lattice parameters was found to follow Vegard's law for both the hcp and fcc phases due to the miscibility of the two components. For the Co-rich Co-Cu alloys, the data indicate a positive deviation from Vegard's law for both the hcp and fcc phases in agreement with the known similar behavior of fcc Co-Cu alloys for the whole composition range. The positive deviation from Vegard's law in the Co-Cu system is due to the excess mixing volume required for solid solution alloy formation of these immiscible elements in either phases. The MR data are discussed in the light of the observed phases and of the MR parameters reported in our previous work on the hcp and fcc phases of pure Co.

Grain boundary energy (GBE) and its temperature dependence in body-centered cubic (bcc) metals are investigated using ab initio calculations. We reveal a scaling relationship between the GBEs of the same grain boundary structure in different bcc metals and find that the scaling factor can be best estimated by the ratio of the low-index surface energy. Applying the scaling relationship, the general GBEs of bcc metals at 0 K are predicted. Furthermore, adopting the Foiles's method which assumes that the general GBE has the same temperature dependence as the elastic modulus c44 [Scr. Mater., 62 (2010) 231–234], the predicted general GBEs at elevated temperatures are found in good agreement with available experimental data. Reviewing two experimental methods for determining the general GBEs, we conclude that the two sets of experimental GBEs for bcc metals correspond to different GB structural spaces and differ by approximately a factor of 2. The present work puts forward an efficient methodology for predicting the general GBEs of metals, which has the potential to extend its application for homogeneous alloys without strong segregation of the alloying element and facilitates GB engineering for advanced alloy design.

The composition and magnetic dependent interfacial energy in Cu-Co immiscible alloys is investigated within a coherent interface model using ab initio calculations. We translate the composition dependence of the interfacial energy to the temperature dependence considering the variations of the equilibrium compositions of precipitate and matrix with respect to temperature. The obtained results are in reasonable agreement with those obtained by experiments and thermodynamic calculations. Reviewing the experimental methods for determining the interfacial energy based on kinetic models for precipitate nucleation and coarsening, as well the thermodynamic models based on broken-bond models, we point out that the temperature effect on the interfacial energy in the above models is primarily due to the composition change of the interface. The present work emphasizes the effort to understand the meaning of the speciously same quantity in different methods.

Investigating the grain boundary energies of pure fcc metals and their surface energies obtained from ab initio modeling, we introduce a robust method to estimate the grain boundary energies for complex multicomponent alloys. The input parameter is the surface energy of the alloy, which can easily be accessed by modern ab initio calculations based on density functional theory. The method is demonstrated in the case of paramagnetic Fe-Cr-Ni alloys for which experimental grain boundary data is available.

Using first-principles alloy theory, we perform a systematic study of the Co-Cu phase diagram. Calculations are carried out for ferromagnetic and paramagnetic Co1-xCux solid solutions with face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystal structure. We find that the equilibrium volumes and magnetic states are crucial for a quantitative description of the thermodynamics of the Co-Cu system at temperatures up to 1400 K. In particular, the paramagnetic state of Cu-rich alloys with persisting local magnetic moments is shown to be responsible for the solubility of a small amount of Co in fcc Cu whereas the excess entropy in the ferromagnetic Co-rich region critically depends on the adopted lattice parameters. None of the common local or semilocal density functional theory approximations have the necessary accuracy for the lattice parameters when compared to the experimental data. The predicted ab initio Co-Cu phase diagram is in good agreement with the measurements and CALPHAD data, making it possible to gain a deep insight into the various contributions to the Gibbs free energy. The present study provides an atomic-level description of the thermodynamic quantities controlling the limited mutual solubility of Co and Cu and highlights the importance of high-temperature magnetism.

Grain boundary energy (GBE) and its temperature dependence in body-centered cubic (bcc) metals are investigated using abinitio calculations. We reveal a scaling relationship between the GBEs of the same grain boundary structure in different bccmetals and find that the scaling factor can be best estimated by the ratio of the low-index surface energy. Appling the scalingrelationship, the general GBEs of bcc metals at 0 K are predicted. Furthermore, adopting the Foiles’s method which assumesthat the general GBE has the same temperature dependence as the elastic modulus c44 [Scr. Mater., 62 (2010) 231–234], thepredicted general GBEs at elevated temperatures are found in good agreement with available experimental data. Reviewing twoexperimental methods for determining the general GBEs, we conclude that the two sets of experimental GBEs for bcc metalscorrespond to different GB structural spaces and differ by approximately a factor of 2. The present work puts forward an efficientmethodology for predicting the general GBEs of metals and alloys, facilitating GB engineering for advanced alloy design.