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Solid-Solid Phase Transformation Via Internal Stress-Induced Virtual Melting, Significantly Below The Melting Temperature. Application To Hmx Energetic Crystal, Valery I. Levitas, Bryan F. Henson, Laura B. Smilowitz, Blaine W. Asay

Valery I. Levitas

We theoretically predict a new phenomenon, namely, that a solid−solid phase transformation (PT) with a large transformation strain can occur via internal stress-induced virtual melting along the interface at temperatures significantly (more than 100 K) below the melting temperature. We show that the energy of elastic stresses, induced by transformation strain, increases the driving force for melting and reduces the melting temperature. Immediately after melting, stresses relax and the unstable melt solidifies. Fast solidification in a thin layer leads to nanoscale cracking which does not affect the thermodynamics or kinetics of the solid−solid transformation. Thus, virtual melting represents a new …