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Article
Uniaxial compression of [001]-oriented CaFe2As2 single crystals: the effects of microstructure and temperature on superelasticity Part I: Experimental observations
Ames Laboratory Accepted Manuscripts
  • John T. Sypek, University of Connecticut
  • Sriram Vijayan, University of Connecticut
  • Ian Bakst, Colorado State University
  • Shuyang Xiao, University of Connecticut
  • Matthew J. Kramer, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Paul C. Canfield, Iowa State University and Ames Laboratory
  • Mark Aindow, University of Connecticut
  • Christopher R. Weinberger, Colorado State University
  • Seok-Woo Lee, University of Connecticut
Publication Date
11-6-2020
Department
Ames Laboratory; Physics and Astronomy
OSTI ID+
1722883
Report Number
IS-J 10368
DOI
10.1016/j.actamat.2020.11.006
Journal Title
Acta Materialia
Abstract

Micropillar compression experiments on [001]-oriented CaFe2As2 single crystals have recently revealed the existence of superelasticity with a remarkably high elastic limit of over 10%. The collapsed tetragonal phase transition, which is a uni-axial contraction process in which As-As bonds are formed across an intervening Ca-plane, is the main mechanism of superelasticity. Usually, superelasticity and the related structural transitions are affected strongly by both the microstructure and the temperature. In this study, therefore, we investigated how the microstructure and temperature affect the superelasticity of [001]-oriented CaFe2As2 micropillars cut from solution-grown single crystals, by performing a combination of in-situ cryogenic micromechanical testing and transmission electron microscopy studies. Our results show that the microstructure of CaFe2As2 is influenced strongly by the crystal growth conditions and by subsequent heat treatment. The presence of Ca and As vacancies and FeAs nanoprecipitates affect the mechanical behavior significantly. In addition, the onset stress for the collapsed tetragonal transition decreases gradually as the temperature decreases. These experimental results are discussed primarily in terms of the formation of As-As bonds, which is the essential feature of this mechanism for superelasticity. Our research outcomes provide a more fundamental understanding of the superelasticity exhibited by CaFe2As2 under uni-axial compression.

DOE Contract Number(s)
AC02-07CH11358
Language
en
Publisher
Iowa State University Digital Repository, Ames IA (United States)
Citation Information
John T. Sypek, Sriram Vijayan, Ian Bakst, Shuyang Xiao, et al.. "Uniaxial compression of [001]-oriented CaFe2As2 single crystals: the effects of microstructure and temperature on superelasticity Part I: Experimental observations" Vol. 203 (2020) p. 116464
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul_canfield/433/