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Interphase Energies Of Hcp Precipitates In Fcc Metals: A Density-Functional Theory Study In Al-Ag, Daniel Finkenstadt, Duane D. Johnson

Duane D. Johnson

Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations of interphase boundary energies relevant to hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) γ-precipitate formation were performed within approximate unit cells that mirror the experimental conditions in face-centered-cubic (fcc) Al-Ag solid solutions. In Al-rich, fcc Al-Ag, γ precipitates are observed to form rapidly with large (300+) aspect ratios even though the Al stacking-fault energy is high (approximately 130 mJ/m2), which should suppress hcp ribbon formation according to standard arguments. Our DFT results show why high-aspect ratio plates occur and why previous estimates based on Wulff construction were orders of magnitude less than observed values. Using DFT, we obtain a Gibbs free-energy …