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Relationship between layered crystal structure and mechanical properties of M3AlN (M = Zr and Hf): A first-principles investigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Jiemin Wang ,
Jingyang Wang ,
Fangzhi Li  and
Yanchun Zhou
Jiemin Wang
Affiliation:
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; and Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
Jingyang Wang*
Affiliation:
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Fangzhi Li
Affiliation:
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; and Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
Yanchun Zhou
Affiliation:
Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: jywang@imr.ac.cn
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Abstract

Bonding character, elastic mechanical parameters, ideal strengths, and atomistic shear deformation mechanisms of M3AlN (M = Zr and Hf) were studied by first-principles method. M3AlN exhibits layered chemical bonding character due to the alternately stacking of relatively soft Al–M and strong N–M covalent bonds. The second-order elastic constants and mechanical parameters of M3AlN were reported for the first time. The stress–strain relationships for different deformation modes were studied and the ideal shear and tensile strength were obtained. M3AlN ceramics are predicted to be “quasi-ductile” layered nitrides based on the low shear-modulus-to-bulk-modulus ratios, positive Cauchy pressure (c12–c44), and lower ideal shear strength compared to ideal tensile strength. Investigation of the atomistic shear deformation mechanism of Hf3AlN shows that stretching of soft Al–Hf bonds and relatively weak bridge N–Hf1 bonds dominate the shear deformation; while the rigid N–Hf2 bonds resist against the applied shear strain. Chemical bonding characteristics and shear deformation mechanism of M3AlN are similar with those of other “quasi-ductile” ceramics, such as MAX phases, LaPO4 monazite, and γ-Y2Si2O7. The results further suggest that M3AlN nitrides should be quasi-ductile and damage tolerant.

Keywords

Elastic propertiesElectronic structureNitride
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 24 , Issue 12 , December 2009 , pp. 3523 - 3532
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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