Abstract
Nb-based silicides are promising ultrahigh-temperature materials. However, the structural stability and mechanical properties of Nb-based silicides are markedly influenced by Nb3Si phase. Therefore, the improvement of the stability and mechanical properties of Nb3Si is a great challenge. To solve these key problems, in this work, we apply the first-principles calculations to investigate the influence of transition metals (TM = Mo, Re, Ta, W, Pt, and Ir) on the structural stability, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of Nb3Si. Two possible doped sites: Nb site and Si site are considered. We find that these alloying elements not only can stabilize the Nb3Si phase but also effectively improve the mechanical properties of Nb3Si. The calculated electronic structure shows that high elastic modulus is attributed to the formation of the TM–Si bond. Importantly, these alloying elements improve the heat capacity of Nb3Si due to the vibration of TM atoms under high temperature. Therefore, our calculated results predict that alloying elements of Re and Ir are beneficial for improving the overall performances of Nb3Si.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Q. Lu, G. Zhu, X. Wang, and J.L. Fan: Synthesis and mechanical properties of (Mo0.94Nb0.06)(Si0.97Al0.03)2−x vol% SiC composites fabricated via SHS–HP. Ceram. Int. 43, 3424 (2017).
F. Chen, J. Xu, Y. Liu, and L. Cai: In situ reactive spark plasma sintering of WSi2/MoSi2 composites. Ceram. Int. 42, 11165 (2016).
Y. Guo, L. Jia, S. Sun, B. Kong, J. Liu, and H. Zhang: Rapid fabrication of Nb–Si based alloy by selective laser melting: Microstructure, hardness and initial oxidation behavior. Mater. Des. 109, 37 (2016).
X. Chong, Y. Jiang, R. Zhou, and J. Feng: Stability, chemical bonding behavior, elastic properties and lattice thermal conductivity of molybdenum and tungsten borides under hydrostatic pressure. Ceram. Int. 42, 2117 (2016).
Y. Pan, S. Wang, P. Mao, and C. Jin: Role of Si concentration on the thermodynamic properties of molybdenum silicides. Vacuum 141, 170 (2017).
Y. Guo, J. Jia, B. Kong, S. Zhang, J. Sha, and H. Zhang: Microstructure transition from lamellar eutectic to anomalous eutectic of Nb–Si based alloy powders by heat treatment and spark plasma sintering. J. Alloys Compd. 696, 516 (2017).
J. Cheng, S. Yi, and J.S. Park: Simultaneous coating of Si and B on Nb–Si–B alloys by a halide activated pack cementation method and oxidation behaviors of the alloys with coatings at 1100 °C. J. Alloys Compd. 644, 975 (2015).
W. Wei, H. Wang, C. Zou, Z. Zhu, and Z. Wei: Microstructure and oxidation behavior of Nb-based multi-phase alloys. Mater. Des. 46, 1 (2013).
N. Sekido, S. Miura, Y.Y. Mitarai, Y. Kimura, and Y. Mishima: Dislocation character and operative slip systems in a-Nb5Si3 tested at 1673 K. Intermetallics 18, 841 (2010).
S. Kashyap, C.S. Tiwary, and K. Chattopadhyay: Microstructural and mechanical behavior study of suction cast Nb–Si binary alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 583, 188 (2013).
K. Hagihara, H. Araki, T. Ikenishi, and T. Nakano: Creep-deformation behavior of (Mo0.85Nb0.15)Si2 lamellar-structured C40/C11b two-phase crystals. Acta Mater. 107, 196 (2016).
Y.W. Kang, Y.C. Yan, J.X. Song, and H.S. Ding: Microstructures and mechanical properties of Nbss/Nb5Si3in situ composite prepared by electromagnetic cold crucible directional solidification. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 599, 87 (2014).
Y. Pan, Y. Lin, Q. Xue, C. Ren, and H. Wang: Relationship between Si concentration and mechanical properties of Nb–Si compounds: A first-principles study. Mater. Des. 89, 676 (2016).
W. Xu, J. Han, C. Wang, Y. Zhou, Y. Wang, Y. Kang, B. Wen, X. Liu, and Z. Liu: Temperature-dependent mechanical properties of alpha-/beta-Nb5Si3 phases from first-principles calculations. Intermetallics 46, 72 (2014).
G. Cheng, H. Qian, L. He, and H. Ye: Characterization of a new Nb–silicide (Nb11Si4) in Nb–Si binary systems. Philos. Mag. A 90, 2557 (2010).
Z. Yazdani, F. Karimzadeh, and M.H. Abbasi: Formation mechanism of NbSi2–Al2O3 nanocomposite subject to mechanical alloying. Adv. Powder Technol. 25, 1357 (2014).
I. Papadinitriou, C. Utton, and P. Tsakiropoulos: Ab initio investigation of the intermetallics in the Nb–Sn binary system. Acta Mater. 86, 23 (2015).
L. Su, O.L. Steffes, H. Zhang, and J.H. Perepezko: An ultra-high temperature Mo–Si–B based coating for oxidation protection of Nbss/Nb5Si3 composites. Appl. Surf. Sci. 337, 38 (2015).
P.S. Nnamchi: First principles studies on structural, elastic and electronic properties of new Ti–Mo–Nb–Zr alloys for biomedical applications. Mater. Des. 108, 60 (2016).
S.Y. Liu, J.X. Shang, F.H. Wang, S. Liu, Y. Zhang, and D. Li: Oxidation of the two-phase Nb/Nb5Si3 composite: The role of energetics, thermodynamics, segregation, and interfaces. J. Chem. Phys. 138, 014708 (2013).
I. Papadimitriou, C. Utton, A. Scott, and P. Tsakiropoulos: Ab initio study of the intermetallics in Nb–Si binary system. Intermetallics 54, 125 (2014).
Y. Pan, Y. Lin, H. Wang, and C. Zhang: Vacancy induced brittle-to-ductile transition of Nb5Si3 alloy from first-principles. Mater. Des. 86, 259 (2015).
W.K. Wang, H. Iwasaki, C. Suryanarayana, T. Masumoto, N. Toyota, T. Fukase, and F. Kogiku: Crystallization characteristics of an amorphous Nb81Si19 alloy under high pressure and formation of the A15 phase. J. Mater. Sci. 17, 1523 (1982).
M.D. Segall, P.J.D. Lindan, M.J. Probert, C.J. Pickard, P.J. Hasnip, S.J. Clark, and M.C. Payne: First-principles simulation: Ideas, illustrations and the CASTEP code. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 14, 2717 (2002).
J.P. Perdew and Y. Wang: Accurate and simple analytic representation of the electron-gas correlation energy. Phys. Rev. B 45, 13244 (1992).
D. Vanderbilt: Soft self-consistent pseudopotentials in a generalized eigenvalue formalism. Phys. Rev. B 41, 7892 (1990).
Y. Pan: RuAl2: Structure, electronic and elastic properties from first-principles. Mater. Res. Bull. 93, 56 (2017).
H. Zhang, S.L. Shang, Y. Wang, A. Saengdeejing, L.Q. Chen, and Z.K. Liu: First-principles calculations of the elastic, phonon and thermodynamic properties of Al12Mg17. Acta Mater. 58, 4012 (2010).
W.W. Xu, J.J. Han, Y. Wang, C.P. Wang, X.J. Liu, and Z.K. Liu: First-principles investigation of electronic, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of L12 ordered Co3(M, W) (M = Al, Ge, Ga) phases. Acta Mater. 61, 5437 (2013).
U.A. Curle, L.A. Cornish, and G. Govender: Predicting yield strengths of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–(Zr) aluminium alloys based on alloy composition or hardness. Mater. Des. 99, 211 (2016).
Y. Pan and B. Zhou: ZrB2: Adjusting the phase structure to improve the brittle fracture and electronic properties. Ceram. Int. 43, 8763 (2017).
Z. Zhou, X. Zhou, and K. Zhang: Structural, phase stability, electronic, elastic properties and hardness of IrN2 and zinc blende IrN: First-principles calculations. Physica B 503, 141 (2016).
Z. Zhou, X. Zhou, and K. Zhang: Phase stability, electronic structure and mechanical properties of IrBx (x = 0.9, 1.1): First-principles calculations. Comput. Mater. Sci. 113, 98 (2016).
S. Aydin and M. Simsek: First-principles calculations of MnB2, TcB2, and ReB2 within the ReB2-type structure. Phys. Rev. B 80, 134107 (2009).
R. Hill: The elastic behaviour of a crystalline aggregate. Proc. Phys. Soc., London, Sect. A 65, 349 (1952).
F. Galasso and J. Pyle: Nb3Si, a superconductor with the ordered Cu3Au structure. Acta Crystallogr. 16, 228 (1963).
M. Todai, k. Hagihara, K. Kishida, H. Inui, and T. Nakano: Microstructure and fracture toughness in boron added NbSi2(C40)/MoSi2(C11b) duplex crystals. Scr. Mater. 113, 236 (2016).
G. Zhu, X. Wang, Q. Lu, G. Wu, and P. Feng: High-temperature crack-healing behaviour and strengthrecovery of (MoNb)Si2. Appl. Surf. Sci. 343, 41 (2015).
J.X. Shang, K. Guan, and F.H. Wang: Atomic structure and adhesion of the Nb(001)/α-Nb5Si3(001) interface: A first-principles study. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 22, 085004 (2010).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51274170). We acknowledge the discussion from Lady Yun Zheng.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pan, Y., Lin, Y. Insight into the influence of alloying elements on mechanical and thermodynamic properties of Nb3Si: A first-principles calculations. Journal of Materials Research 32, 3642–3649 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.289
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2017.289