Ab Initio calculations (VASP) correctly predict the monoclinic phase to be the most stable at low temperatures, followed by the tetragonal, and the high-temperature cubic phases. The structural information and heat of formation obtained provide a sound starting point for calculations of thermodynamic properties.
In many metal-ceramic composites the interface between the metallic and ceramic phases determines the mechanical properties of the material. A prominent example is the WC-Co composite, where the combination of high WC hardness and Co ductility results in advantageous mechanical properties for applications in the tool manufacturing industry. The outstanding performance of WC-Co can be explained by the low interface energies (high stability) of the contacting surfaces of WC and Co.
The insertion of interstitial impurities in a host lattice causes local deformations of the lattice. The
purpose of this case study is the comparison of such deformations caused by boron and fluorine
impurities in a silver lattice.