Antiphase boundary 2026-10-20
An interface between ordered domains related by a displacement that is a translation of the underlying disordered lattice but not of the ordered chemical structure. Slip by that displacement can leave an antiphase boundary behind a dislocation; a second appropriate displacement can restore the order.
Gamma prime phase 2026-10-20
The ordered phase based on in many nickel-based superalloys. A matrix translation disrupts its order and can create an antiphase boundary.
Order strengthening 2026-10-20
Resistance to dislocation motion caused by the energetic cost of disrupting chemical order, for example creating an antiphase boundary in a gamma prime phase precipitate.
Past exam of the materials science course of the University of Cambridge 2017 Paper 1 7 c Solution 2026-10-20
The nickel-rich matrix is a disordered substitutional solid solution on a face-centered cubic lattice. The ordered phase has the L12 structure, approximately : aluminium occupies cube corners and nickel occupies face centres. Its occupied-site geometry is often called ordered FCC, but its chemically labelled Bravais lattice is primitive cubic, with a four-atom basis. A face-centre translation exchanges chemical sublattices and is not a symmetry of the ordered crystal.
Each Al atom has twelve nearest-neighbour Ni atoms at Euclidean distance . Each Ni atom has twelve nearest neighbours too, but these are four Al and eight Ni. The chemical distinction matters for slip. In disordered , the shortest perfect Burgers vector isFor the ordered primitive cubic translation lattice, the shortest order-preserving perfect vector isThis does not imply that slip must dominate. A vector must lie in a favourable glide plane and have an accessible core structure and activation stress. Matrix dislocations commonly glide on systems. A single passage through leaves an antiphase boundary; a second matching passage restores order, giving total vector . Such a superdislocation has a longer total vector than , yet its constituent dislocations can move on the favourable close-packed planes and interact with the matrix. Paired motion balances line and antiphase-boundary energies, so the shortest abstract lattice translation alone does not select the active slip system.[ref]
Nickel based superalloy: dislocation structure by H. K. D. H. Bhadeshia. explanation of matrix translations, ordered-phase antiphase boundaries and paired dislocations
Past exam of the materials science course of the University of Cambridge 2019 Paper 1 3 d Solution 2026-10-20
At a common test temperature and otherwise comparable microstructure, chemical order generally raises the yield strength. An ordinary FCC dislocation displaced by can interchange Au and Cu sublattices, creating an antiphase boundary behind it. This additional energy resists slip; paired dislocations can restore the order after the second member passes. The disordered phase does not pay the same ordering penalty. Comparing specimens actually tested at their different phase-stability temperatures also includes temperature-dependent mobility and recovery, so the ordering argument alone does not predict a unique measured strength ratio.
Superdislocation 2026-10-20
An order-preserving total dislocation in an ordered crystal, often dissociated into smaller dislocations separated by an antiphase boundary. Two matching dislocations can restore order in the gamma prime phase.