A team of researchers found that randomly selected, high - angle, general grain boundaries in a nickel - bismuth (Ni - Bi) polycrystalline alloy can undergo interfacial reconstruction to form ordered superstructures, a discovery that enriches the theories and fundamental understandings of both grain boundary segregation and liquid
metal embrittlement in physical metallurgy.
Specific to this nickel - bismuth system, such interfacial superstructures are the root cause of a mysterious phenomenon called «liquid
metal embrittlement,» wherein a normally ductile nickel metal or nickel - based alloy can fail catastrophically in an extremely brittle manner in contact with a bismuth - based liquid metal.
In that earlier work, researchers discovered this bilayer interfacial phase that is responsible for the mysterious liquid
metal embrittlement in nickel - bismuth, but the exact atomic structures of the bilayers had not been determined at that time.
Not exact matches
Neutron irradiation
embrittlement of
metals has been a well - known and studied process for several decades; from at least since the 1970s and very likely earlier.
Why it Matters: Combating intergranular
embrittlement and disintegration is necessary for preventing
metal alloy failure during service life, yet oxidation remains a potentially dangerous obstacle to overcome.
Neutron irradiation
embrittlement of
metals has been a well - known and studied process for several decades; from at least since the 1970s and very likely earlier.