Some Thermodynamic Properties of NiAl Calculated by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Abstract

ABSTRACTCalculations of the surface free energy and anti-phase boundary energy as a function of low index orientations and temperature have been determined for equiatomic perfectly ordered bcc NiAl via molecular dynamics computer simulations. The simulations utilized an Embedded Atom Method calculation of the interatomic potentials and volume forces in the Ni-As alloy system. Values of about 0.95, 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 J/m2 were found for surface energies of the {100}, {110}, {112} and {111} orientations:, respectively. APB energies of about 0.24 and 0.38 J/m2 were determined for {110} and {112} boundaries, respectively. In addition, we have examined the phase stability and relative energies of the ordered bcc, fcc and bct phases at low temperature, and find a bct phase with c/a = 1.32 slightly lower in energy than the bcc, presaging the martensitic transformation that occurs at finite temperatures in more nickel rich alloys.