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Phase Formation of a C6 Niobium Hemicarbide from Sub-stoichiometric NbC

  • Phase Stability in Extreme Environments
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Abstract

The niobium hemicarbide (Nb2C) has at least three known polymorphs: α (Pnma or Pbcn), β (P\(\overline{3}1\mathrm{m })\), and γ (P63/mmc) as a function of temperature. Identification of these phases has been notoriously difficult particularly for the lower-temperature variations (α and β) because of their long-range vacancy ordering. In the current study, an overall Nb2C composition has been processed by hot isostatically pressing NbC and Nb powders together which did not fully homogenize. Using neutron diffraction and selected area electron diffraction, the C6 (P\(\overline{3}\mathrm{m }1\)) structure was identified in the Nb2C. The formation pathway for this phase is postulated from the high density of stacking faults observed in the NbC.

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Acknowledgements

G.B. T. recognizes NSF-DMR-2026760 and C.R.W. recognizes NSF-DMR-2026766 for support of this research. Stephen DiPeitro is thanked for the niobium hemicarbide sample. This research used resources at the Missouri University Research Reactor (MURR).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Ilias Bikmukhametov, Jonathan L. Priedeman & Gregory B. Thompson

  2. Alabama Analytical Research Center, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Ilias Bikmukhametov & Gregory B. Thompson

  3. University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Liurukara D. Sanjeewa

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Liurukara D. Sanjeewa

  5. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Christopher R. Weinberger

  6. School of Advanced Materials Discovery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA

    Christopher R. Weinberger

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  1. Ilias Bikmukhametov
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  2. Jonathan L. Priedeman
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  3. Liurukara D. Sanjeewa
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  4. Christopher R. Weinberger
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Contributions

IB performed the electron microscopy and provided the first draft. JLP provided data analysis of the neutron diffraction data set. LDS also provided data analysis as well as performed neutron diffraction. CRW conducted the DFT simulations. CRW and GBT conceptualized the project, and provided technical direction and edits to the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gregory B. Thompson.

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Appendix

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Figure 6
figure 6

Illustration of the method to achieve the combined (predicted * experiment) peaks. The predicted reflections are calculated using known mathematical relationships for diffraction from crystal structures. Those reflections are replaced by Gaussian normal distributions, to achieve the predicted peaks. Then, the predicted and experimental peaks curves are multiplied (element wise) and normalized to yield the combined peaks curve.

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Bikmukhametov, I., Priedeman, J.L., Sanjeewa, L.D. et al. Phase Formation of a C6 Niobium Hemicarbide from Sub-stoichiometric NbC. JOM 75, 4626–4635 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-023-06084-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-023-06084-y

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