In this paper we present a new method of the rapid construction of magnetic phase diagrams in a temperature-composition space, using magneto-optic imaging with an indicator film technique (MOIF). The method is applied for mapping the diagram for the La1–xCaxMnO3 colossal magneto-resistive oxide, using the spread films deposited on a SrTiO3 substrate. The constructed magnetic diagram is in a good agreement with data on uniform films and bulk crystals of this system. The MOIF study of transitions under cooling and heating has revealed the formation of a non-magnetic phase in the area of temperatures from 5 K to 57 K and compositions from x = 0 to x = 0.5.

The defect structure of a 350-nm-thick epitaxial Ba0.3Sr0.7TiO3 thin film grown on (001) LaAlO3 has been investigated using conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The predominant defects in the film are threading dislocations (TDs) with Burgers vectors b = <100> and <110>. A high density of extended stacking faults (SFs) with displacement vectors R = (1/2)<110> were also observed in the near-interface region of the film. The faults are associated with dissociated dislocations and partial halfloops. Some findings about dislocation dissociation and the atomic structure of the (1/2)<110> faults are observed for the first time in perovskites to our knowledge. The mechanisms for the generation, dissociation and evolution of the TDs as well as for the formation mechanism of the SFs are discussed.

The domain structure of the 400 nm thick PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (PZT) films with different electrode layer configurations was investigated by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The c-domain fractions of the PZT films with no electrode layer, with a 50 nm electrode layer between the film and the substrate, and with 50 nm electrode layers on top and bottom of the PZT film were found to be equal. This means that depolarizing fields do not affect the polydomain structure of the film. Calculations of the in-plane strains based on the lattice parameters of the La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO) layer in the above configurations led to the conclusion that the bottom electrode layer is coherently strained to match the substrate.

Transmission electron microscopy and powder x-ray diffraction methods have been used to investigate the evolution of two-phase (L12 + DO22) microstructures from the quenched fcc phase of the Ni-5Al-20V (at. %) alloy. The microstructure after annealing in a temperature range from 650 to 900 °C differs from the eutectoid structure which might be expected for the alloy according to the eutectoid-type phase diagram of the Ni3Al-Ni3V section. This structure results from fast kinetics of ordering in the fcc → L12 and fcc → DO22 phase transitions. Four main stages in the microstructural evolution were observed. Stage I is the formation of spheroidal coherent L12 clusters in a disordered fcc matrix. During stage II the L12 clusters transform into cuboidal precipitates, and the fcc matrix orders into three DO22 variants (which may have interfaces that are wetted by thin fcc layers). In stage III accommodation of misfit (elastic energy) between different phases and variants occurs by formation of (110) twins or a single variant of the DO22 phase and tetragonally strained lamellae of the L12 phase. Stage IV is a discontinuous coarsening process in which a coarse incoherent two-phase structure replaces the fine coherent one. Grains of the coarse structure are nucleated on high-angle boundaries of primary fcc or other surfaces. Many of the grains are found twinned.

Enhanced room temperature toughness of the Zr50Pd35Ru15B2 phase alloy was found to be a result of the activation of an additional deformation mode besides the b=[001] dislocation slip mode - {114}-type mechanical twinning. The twinning is a true one, i.e. there is no change in the ordered crystal structure. Another additional mode of plastic deformation, expected for more Pd rich alloys, is the formation of stress-induced martensite. The martensite was found to have a CrBtype structure.

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) atomization has been used to rapidly solidify micron and submicron size droplets of Al-14 at. % Mn to study nucleation behavior of icosahedral phase. Icosahedral grain size has been found to decrease continuously with decreasing droplet size. Based on this result, formation of the icosahedral phase is explained by homogeneous nucleation. Extremely low resistance to nucleation of icosahedral phase can be understood if possible topological similarities between liquid and icosahedral quasicrystal are considered. Formation of glass as configurationally frozen liquid in Al-Mn and similar alloy systems is questionable, implying that the reported Al-Mn glass probably has a microquasicrystalline structure.