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Nanolattices are promoted as next‐generation multifunctional high‐performance materials, but their mechanical response is limited to extreme strength yet brittleness, or extreme deformability but low strength and stiffness. Ideal impact protection systems require high‐stress plateaus over long deformation ranges to maximize energy absorption. Here, glassy carbon nanospinodals, i.e., nanoarchitectures with spinodal shell topology, combining ultrahigh energy absorption and exceptional strength and stiffness at low weight are presented. Noncatastrophic deformation up to 80% strain, and energy absorption up to one order of magnitude higher than for other nano‐, micro‐, macro‐architectures and solids, and state‐of‐the‐art impact protection structures are shown. At the same time, the strength and stiffness are on par with the most advanced yet brittle nanolattices, demonstrating true multifunctionality. Finite element simulations show that optimized shell thickness‐to‐curvature‐radius ratios suppress catastrophic failure by impeding propagation of dangerously oriented cracks. In contrast to most micro‐ and nano‐architected materials, spinodal architectures may be easily manufacturable on an industrial scale, and may become the next generation of superior cellular materials for structural applications.

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Atomistic simulations are used to study linear complexion formation at dislocations in a body-centered cubic Fe-Ni alloy. Driven by Ni segregation, precipitation of the metastable B2-FeNi and stable L10-FeNi phases occurs along the compression side of edge dislocations. If the Ni segregation is not intense enough to ensure precipitate growth and coalescence along the dislocation lines, linear complexions in the form of stable nanoscale precipitate arrays are observed. Critical conditions such as global composition and temperature are defined for both linear complexion formation and dislocation-assisted precipitation.

Structural, thermodynamic, atomic and thermal transport properties of solid and liquid phases of the Ni–Al system were studied by means of MD simulations using three embedded-atom method (EAM) potentials developed by Mishin and colleagues (Mishin et al 2002 Phys. Rev. B 65 224114; Mishin 2004 Acta Mater. 52 145167; Purja Pun and Mishin 2009 Phil. Mag. 89 32453267). The extracted properties (lattice parameter, enthalpy, heat capacity, mass diffusivity and thermal conductivity) were compared with experimental data. The limitations of EAM potentials for studying different aspects of reactivity were assessed for each potential separately.

Grain boundary complexions have been observed to affect the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline metals, improving both strength and ductility. While an explanation for the improved ductility exists, the observed effect on strength remains unexplained. In this work, we use atomistic simulations to explore the influence of ordered and disordered complexions on two deformation mechanisms which are essential for nanocrystalline plasticity, namely dislocation emission and propagation. Both ordered and disordered grain boundary complexions in Cu-Zr are characterized by excess free volume and promote dislocation emission by reducing the critical emission stress. Alternatively, these complexions are characterized by strong dislocation pinning regions that increase the flow stress required for dislocation propagation. Such pinning regions are caused by ledges and solute atoms at the grain-complexion interfaces and may be dependent on the complexion state as well as the atomic size mismatch between the matrix and solute elements. The trends observed in our simulations of dislocation propagation align with the available experimental data, suggesting that dislocation propagation is the rate-limiting mechanism behind plasticity in nanocrystalline Cu-Zr alloys.

In nanometric metallic multilayers such as Ni/Al, the alloying reaction proceeds in the form of a propagating wave. We studied the different phase transformations involved in the reactive wave propagation by means of molecular dynamics. The focus was on a specific regime that involves melting of reactants, intermixing of reactants and formation of an intermetallic compound. We found that the wave consists in two stages. The first front is associated with a dissolution process and propagates at several meters per second while the second front is due to the crystallization of the final product and is slower leading to a specific microstructure with alternated large grains of NiAl and liquid regions in the front propagation direction. Three main exothermic processes were identified, including grain coarsening. Their respective contributions were evaluated. We developed a new texture analysis tool that allowed us to follow the evolution of the microstructure and the dynamics of the grain orientation.