A method is presented for recognition of nanograins in high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images of nanocrystalline materials. We suggest a numerical procedure, which is similar to the experimental dynamic hollow cone dark-field method in transmission electron microscopy and the annular dark-field method in scanning transmission electron microscopy. The numerical routine is based on moving a small mask along a circular path in the Fourier spectrum of a HRTEM image and performing at each angular step an inverse Fourier transform. The procedure extracts the amplitude from the Fourier reconstructions and generates a sum picture that is a real space map of the local amplitude. From this map, it is possible to determine both the size and shape of the nanograins that satisfy the selected Bragg conditions. The possibilities of the method are demonstrated by determining the grain size distribution in gadolinium with ultrafine nanocrystalline grains generated by spark plasma sintering.

Phase transformations in SnAg–Ni80P20 films were studied ex situ in parallel with in situ measurements of the corresponding transformation-induced stresses. Layered formation of Ni3Sn4 and Ni3P phases at an early stage of a reaction between SnAg and Ni80P20 films resulted in a tensile stress similar to the stress evolution in Sn–Ni80P20 films, despite the additional formation of Ag3Sn phase. Ag3Sn phase did not significantly affect the degree of stress evolution because of its islandlike and sporadic formation on the top surface of the Ni3Sn4 layer. Isothermal annealing showed that compressive stress, which was induced by the dominant formation of Ni3Sn4, developed after an initial evolution of tensile stress.

Ti3SiC2 powder of about 96 wt% purity was produced using TiCx and Si powders. The synthesis process was characterized by an exothermic reaction at ∼985 °C and low activation energy (∼27 kJ/mol) of conversion. Almost complete conversion to Ti3SiC2 phase was observed during sintering. The onset temperature of sintering was found to be at about 1060 °C using dilatometer. The density of nearly 99% (theoretical) was achieved through the pressureless sintering of Ti3SiC2 powder by 1 and 2 wt% Si powder additions. The sample (without sintering aid) sintered at 1500 °C for 4 h showed uniformly distributed angular grains, whereas the bimodal nature of the microstructure was observed when Si was added as a sintering aid.

A significant reduction of the undercooling of Sn-based solder alloys was previously reported when they were reacted with various under bump metallurgies (UBMs). In the present study, new experiments have been designed and carried out to understand the undercooling behavior of various Cu- and Ni-doped solders on Ni UBM. Two competing mechanisms were further investigated that include the formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at solder/UBM interface and the change of solder composition because of the dissolution of Ni UBM into solder. Two types of IMCs, including both Ni3Sn4 and Cu6Sn5 that were formed at the interface, were correlated with the undercooling of Sn–0.2Cu and Sn–3.8Ag–0.2Cu solders. In addition, the compositional changes of various Sn-based solders after reactions with Ni UBM were analyzed. On the basis of the experimental results, it was found that the significant reduction in undercooling is primarily caused by dissolved Ni atoms from Ni UBM and the concurrent formation of Ni3Sn4 IMC in the solder matrix. Finally, the beneficial effect of Ni dissolution is thermodynamically favorable as confirmed by the thermodynamic calculations and differential scanning calorimetry measurements with various Ni-doped solder alloys.

We analyzed the crystallographic c-axis tilt of (001) Y2O3 films grown on biaxially textured Ni–5%W tapes under different oxygen flux conditions. Results show that different tilting mechanisms were effective in films with different oxygen stoichiometry. Moreover, the structure of the film/substrate interface investigated by transmission electron microscopy, and the residual strain of the film investigated by x-ray diffraction were also dependent on the film oxygen content. Although the oxygen stoichiometric Y2O3 sample exhibited a coherent film/substrate interface and the sharpest out-of-plane texture, the films grown under reduced oxygen pressure exhibited a smaller overall c-axis tilt due to formation of interface dislocations and regions in which the film oxygen vacancies ordered to form a lattice superstructure.

The solid-phase epitaxial growth kinetics of amorphized (011) Si with application of in-plane uniaxial stress to magnitude of 0.9 ± 0.1 GPa were studied. Tensile stresses did not appreciably change the growth velocity compared with the stress-free case, whereas compression tended to retard the growth velocity to approximately one-half the stress-free value. The results are explained using a prior generalized atomistic model of stressed solid-solid phase transformations. In conjunction with prior observations of stressed solid-phase epitaxial growth of (001) Si, it is advanced that the activation volume tensor associated with ledge migration may be substrate orientation-dependent.

Nearly monodisperse Ag nanoparticles capped with octadecylamine were prepared by direct thermal decomposition of silver nitrate in octadecylamine. Then the “oriented attachment” assembly process of these monodisperse nanoparticles was exhibited by exchanging the organic capping ligands, and Ag short nanorods capped with dodecanethiol could be obtained as a result. The composition of Ag was analyzed by x-ray diffraction, and the morphological change from nanoparticle to short-nanorod was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, we also propose a probable mechanism for this transformation process.

Irreversible or plastic deformation in bone is associated with both permanent plastic strain as well as localized microdamage. Whereas mechanisms at the molecular and mesoscopic level have been proposed to explain aspects of irreversible deformation, a quantitative correlation of mechanical yielding, microstructural deformation, and macroscopic plastic strain does not exist. To address this issue, we developed and applied a two-dimensional image correlation technique to the tensile deformation of bovine fibrolamellar bone, to determine the spatial distribution of strain fields at the length scale of 10 μm to 1 mm in bone during irreversible tensile deformation. We find that tensile deformation is relatively homogeneous in the elastic regime and starts at the yield point, showing regions of locally higher strain. Multiple regions of high deformation can exist at the same time over a length scale of 1 to 10 mm. Macroscopic fracture always occurs at one of the locally highly deformed regions, but the selection of which region cannot be predicted. Locally, strain rates can be enhanced by a factor of 3 to 10 over global strain rates in the highly deformed zones and are lower but always positive in all other regions. Light microscopic imaging shows the onset of structural “banding” in the regions of high deformation, which is most likely correlated to microstructural damage at the inter- and intrafibrillar level.

The use of magnetic elements within microelectronic devices are increasingly required in the fabrication of miniature magnetic structures with high energy densities. A synthesis technique is reported that yields Sb-doped CoPt nanoparticles possessing magnetic coercivities as high as 1671 kA/m and magnetic remanences of 295 kA/m, providing an energy product of 20 kJ/m2. Antimony doping was shown to influence the atomic ordering within the alloy sublattices, which allowed the tetragonalization temperature of the nanoparticle structure to be lowered by 200 °C to 400 °C, thereby reducing crystallite growth and sintering during annealing. The “as-synthesized” particles had average diameters of 4.5 nm, which rose to 25 nm on annealing at 600 °C. Synthesis of the doped CoPt particles with high-energy products together with control of particle size distributions in the range of 25 nm allows fabrication of micromagnetic structures by conventional microfabrication techniques such as spin coating and ink-jet printing.

Recalling some of the progress that has been made in understanding the mechanical properties of materials over the past 50 years or so reveals the importance of remembering and applying old lessons when addressing new opportunities in materials research. Often, the classical lessons of the past are especially useful as a guide for thinking about new problems. Such an approach to new problems is intimately connected to the creation of simple models that capture the essential features of the phenomena involved. Experience shows that, although such efforts might not pay off immediately, they come to be useful many years later when new problems are confronted. The merit of applying old lessons to new problems is described herein by using examples from the author's career in characterizing and understanding the mechanical properties of materials. It is hoped that these lessons are sufficiently general to be applied to other areas of materials research. Problems ranging from the high-temperature creep resistance of titanium aluminides, to the residual stresses in deposited thin films, to diffusive relaxation processes in thin films, to the size dependence of the strength of crystalline materials at the nanometer scale, all provide examples of how applying lessons of the past can help to understand new problems. An effort is also made to identify new, emerging problems in materials research where the application of the lessons of the past, together with new capabilities of the future, can come together to produce a fresh understanding of material behavior.

The MBS (mung bean sprouts) vegetal system, with its high penetrability, high selectivity, and space restriction, was explored to control nanocrystal synthesis. We found that the inside and outside of MBS have different structures and ion transformation properties. Two nanocrystals with distinct morphology, the nanorod and the nanosphere, were grown on the outer surface and the inner stem wall of MBS, respectively. The two XWO4 (X = Ca,Sr,Ba) nanocrystals were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The FTIR spectra of nanoproducts were different from bulk products due to the nano-size effect. A presumable mechanism was also determined. This work benefits the application of nanotungstates.

Microstructure evolution, mechanical properties, formability, and texture development were determined for AA6111 samples processed by asymmetric rolling (ASR) with different roll friction, velocity, or diameters, conventional rolling (CR), and equal-channel-angular pressing (ECAP). Highly elongated or sheared grain structures were developed during ASR/CR and ECAP, respectively. ASR led to improved r-values and formability compared with CR primarily as a result of the development of moderate shear-texture components analogous to those developed during ECAP of billet material. ASR based on different roll diameters gave the best combination of strength, ductility, and formability.

A mnemonic scheme is presented to help recall the equations in classical thermodynamics that connect the four state variables (temperature, pressure, volume, and entropy) to the four thermodynamic potentials (internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy). Max Born created a square to help recall the thermodynamic equations. The new scheme here separates the Max Born square into two squares, resulting in easier recalling of several sets of equations, including the Maxwell equations, without complicated rules to remember the positive or negative signs.

Nanostructural characterizations of liquid metal–organic precursors-derived cobalt-doped amorphous silica (Si–Co–O) membranes supported on a mesoporous anodic alumina capillary (MAAC) tube were performed to study their unique high-temperature hydrogen gas permeation properties. Cross-sectional scanning transmission electron microscopy images and selected-area electron diffraction patterns indicated that the metal cobalt and the different oxidation states of cobalt oxides (CoO and Co3O4) nanocrystallites having a size range of 5–20 nm were in situ formed in the mesopore channels of the MAAC tube. In addition, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy micrographs and electron energy loss spectroscopy elemental mapping images indicated that the highly dense Co-doped amorphous Si–O formed within the mesopore channels of the MAAC tube. These nanostructural features could contribute to the hydrogen-selective permeation properties observed for the membranes.

Corrosion study of the API X52 pipeline steel immersed in seawater without biocide and with 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 ppm of biocide, under static and dynamic (turbulent flow) conditions was carried out at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The hydrodynamic conditions were controlled by a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) and the rotation speed was 1000 RPM. I order to analyse the corrosion process, linear polarization resistance (LPR), and polarization curves (PC) were made. This work investigation shown that the corrosion rate is higher under turbulent flow conditions than static conditions. A localized corrosion attacks was found in the superficial analysis.

Indium (III) sulfide has recently attracted much attention due to its potential in optical sensors as a photoconducting material and in photovoltaic applications as a wide direct bandgap material. On the other hand, optical absorption properties are key parameters in developing highly photosensitive photodetectors and high efficiency solar cells. We show that indium sulfide nanorod arrays produced by glancing angle deposition techniques have superior absorption and low reflectance properties compared to conventional flat thin film counterparts. We observed an optical absorption value of approximately 96% for nanorods, in contrast to 80% for conventional amorphous-to-polycrystalline thin films of indium sulfide. A photoconductivity response was also observed in the nanorod samples, whereas no measurable photoresponse was detected in conventional thin films. We give a preliminary description of the enhanced light absorption properties of the nanorods by using Shirley-George Model that predicts enhanced diffuse scattering and reduced reflection of light due the rough morphology.