Formation of nano-sized MC carbides in Si-free GH3535 alloy.

GH3535 alloy is one of the most promising structural materials for molten salt reactors (MSRs). Its microstructure is characterized by equiaxed grains and coarser primary MC carbide strings. In this study, stable nano-sized MC carbides were obtained in GH3535 alloy by the removal of Si and thermal exposure at 650 °C.

Evaluating the ability to form single crystal.

Design of crystal materials requires predicting the ability of bulk materials to form single crystals, challenging current theories of material design. By introducing a concept of condensing potential (CP), it is shown via vast simulations of crystal growth for fcc (Ni, Cu, Al, Ar) and hcp (Mg), that materials with larger CP can grow into perfect single crystal more easily. Due to the simplicity of the calculation of CP, this method might prove a convenient way to evaluate the ability of materials to form single crystal.