Connecting Phase Stability to the Grain Growth Behavior of Ni-W Alloys

Abstract

Nanocrystalline materials are beneficial due to their promising mechanical properties. However, selecting proper alloy compositions to limit unwanted grain growth has become a challenge because of increasing difficulties in understanding nanocrystalline thermodynamics and kinetics. There is a strong dependence on accurate phase diagrams to correctly predict at which compositions certain thermal stability mechanisms are most likely active. Regardless of the stability mechanism, proper knowledge of the phase diagram is paramount to choose the best alloy composition.