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Title: Understanding the Cu-Zn brass alloys using a short-range-order cluster model: Significance of specific compositions of industrial alloys

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep07065· OSTI ID:1222964
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Dalian Univ. of Technology, Dalian (China); Sanming Univ., Sanming (China)
  2. Dalian Univ. of Technology, Dalian (China); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  3. Dalian Univ. of Technology, Dalian (China)
  4. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations

Metallic alloys show complex chemistries that are not yet understood so far. It has been widely accepted that behind the composition selection lies a short-range-order mechanism for solid solutions. The present paper addresses this fundamental question by examining the face-centered-cubic Cu-Zn α-brasses. A new structural approach, the cluster-plus-glue-atom model, is introduced, which suits specifically for the description of short-range-order structures in disordered systems. Two types of formulas are pointed out, [Zn-Cu12]Zn1~6 and [Zn-Cu12](Zn,Cu)6, which explain the α-brasses listed in the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications. In these formulas, the bracketed parts represent the 1st-neighbor cluster, and each cluster is matched with one to six 2nd-neighbor Zn atoms or with six mixed (Zn,Cu) atoms. Such a cluster-based formulism describes the 1st- and 2nd-neighbor local atomic units where the solute and solvent interactions are ideally satisfied. The Cu-Ni industrial alloys are also explained, thus proving the universality of the cluster-formula approach in understanding the alloy selections. As a result, the revelation of the composition formulas for the Cu-(Zn,Ni) industrial alloys points to the common existence of simple composition rules behind seemingly complex chemistries of industrial alloys, thus offering a fundamental and practical method towards composition interpretations of all kinds of alloys.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
Grant/Contract Number:
FE0008855; FE0011194
OSTI ID:
1222964
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1222966; OSTI ID: 1224523
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Vol. 4; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 70 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (8)

High-Temperature Structural Stabilities of Ni-Based Single-Crystal Superalloys Ni–Co–Cr–Mo–W–Al–Ti–Ta with Varying Co Contents journal November 2017
Flexible Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells with over 10% efficiency and methods of enlarging the cell area journal July 2019
Atomic and electronic basis for the serrations of refractory high-entropy alloys journal June 2017
Composition formulas of binary eutectics journal December 2015
Abnormal temperature effects on the dynamic yield stress of alpha-brass journal July 2018
Morphological characterization, in vitro biomedical corrosion and corrosion behaviour of As-Cast Cu-Zn-Al-FeMn alloys in selected intravenous and industrial fluids journal July 2019
Hidden electronic rule in the “cluster-plus-glue-atom” model journal September 2016
Structure Differentiation of Hydrophilic Brass Nanoparticles Using a Polyol Toolbox journal November 2019

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
atomistic models
metals and alloys
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
Cu-ZN brasses
stable solid solution
short-range order
composition
cluster-plus-glue-atom model