S.J. Zheng

Strain-induced preferential dissolution at the dislocation emergences in MnS: an atomic scale study

The long-standing problem of dislocation-preferential dissolution in a crystal has been generally ascribed to the distortion energy stored in the vicinity of the dislocation core. However, due to lack of experimental means, the relationship between the local distortion state and the electrochemical behaviour of a single dislocation has not been established so far. via in situ ex-environment transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we demonstrate that the emergences of both edge and screw dislocations on MnS surfaces are the preferential sites for dissolution of the MnS inclusions within a stainless steel. In addition, we map the strain-induced variation of the standard electrode potential around the edge dislocation by a combination of the aberration-corrected high-resolution TEM and strain-analysis-based mechanochemistry theory. Significantly, our report provides a new approach to investigate the strain–corrosion correlation at an atomic scale.

Atomic structure of the Fe/Fe3C interface with the Isaichev orientation in pearlite

Abstract The pronounced mechanical property of pearlitic steels highly correlates with the ferrite (bcc-Fe)/cementite (Fe3C) boundaries inside. Unraveling the interface structure at an atomic level is essential for interpreting the material’s property. In the present study, using aberration-corrected scanning/transmission electron microscopy combined with density functional theory calculations, we reveal the atomic configuration as well as the electronic structure of the Fe/Fe3C interfaces with the Isaichev orientation in pearlite. The interface with terminating layer Fe–C–Fe in cementite has the lowest energy due to the formation of interfacial Fe–C bonds. Terrace steps which are frequently observed at the interfaces would not break the lattice match between the two phases.

Unravelling the local ring-like atomic pattern of twin boundary in an Mg-Zn-Y alloy

ABSTRACT Understanding the interactions between deformation twins and plate-like phases in magnesium alloys is one of the key issues to tailor the microstructure of magnesium alloys for better mechanical properties. The {102} twin boundary with the local ring-like atomic pattern in magnesium alloy, accompanied by the interaction between deformation twin and solute atoms, has been investigated using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. We found that these boundaries featured local overlapping morphology near the intersection between deformation twins and stacking faults (SFs) enriched with solute atoms. The overlapping morphology is proposed to be induced by the asynchronous shuffling of the SFs and matrix during the twinning. The local ring-like atomic patterns shown here imply that the shearable specific SFs in magnesium alloys will increase twinning energy and resultantly hinder twinning propagation.