Numerical Studies of the Diffusion Processes and First Step Oxidation in Nickel-Oxygen Systems by Variable Charge Molecular Dynamics

Variable charge molecular dynamic simulations have been performed to study the diffusion mechanisms of oxygen atoms (O) in nickel (Ni) in the temperature range 950-1600 K and the very first steps of oxidation of monocrystalline nickel surfaces at 300 K and 950 K. The oxygen diffusivity can be well described by an Arrhenius law over the temperature range considered. The oxygen diffusion coefficient has been analysed and values of Ea = 1.99 eV for the activation energy and D0 = 39 cm2.s-1 for the pre-exponential factor were obtained. The first steps growth of the oxide layer show that after the dissociative chemisorption of the oxygen molecules on nickel surface, the oxidation leads to an isl…

Modélisation de phénomènes locaux : vers leur prise en compte dans la simulation de la cinétique d'oxydation d'un métal.

The oxidation of metals is a complex process involving several mechanisms that take place at different length scale (macroscopic and microscopic). In this work, we try to integrate local phenomena (microscopic scale) in macroscopic models, especially to the modelling of the metal oxidation kinetics. The study is divided in two parts ; the first one based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics allows us to obtain the evolution laws of the system metal/oxyde, those were used to modelling oxidation kinetics. The second one is microscopic ; it consists in a study of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of various aluminium surfaces by molecular dynamic and the calculation of their surface energy density.…

Numerical and theoretical considerations on the surface energy for pure solids under strain

In this paper we developed a numerical analysis, by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, for the surface energy of solids when a stress is applied parallel to the surface. Our MD simulations for Al showed that under these conditions; compression or an alternation of compression and tension, with respect to the bulk, of some atomic layers below the surface is present. Moreover, we quantified the surface energy variations that led us to propose an empirical model.

An empirical model for free surface energy of strained solids at different temperature regimes.

Abstract We have developed an empirical formulation, based on the elastic theory, to calculate the variation of the surface free energy when a crystal is strained in the elastic regime. The model permits to obtain the variation of the surface energy at different strains and temperatures when are known the thermal dependence on the bulk and surface elastic constants. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed using the three low index surfaces of Al, to validate the accuracy of the model. The comparison between the empirical model and the MD simulations shows a good agreement for temperatures ranging between 0 and 900 K, and for deformation between −2% and 2%.

Modelling the carbon Snoek peak in ferrite: Coupling molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations

Abstract Molecular statics, molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte-Carlo are used to model the carbon Snoek peak in ferrite. Using an interatomic EAM potential for the Fe–C system, saddle point energies for the diffusion of carbon have been evaluated under uniaxial stress by molecular statics. These energies have been reintroduced in a kinetic Monte-Carlo scheme to predict the repartition of carbon atoms in different octahedral sites. This repartition leads to an anelastic deformation calculated by molecular dynamics, which causes internal friction (the Snoek peak) for cyclic stress. This approach leads to quantitative predictions of the internal friction, which are in good agreement with exp…

Diffusion of oxygen in nickel: A variable charge molecular dynamics study

Abstract Variable charge molecular dynamics have been performed to study the diffusion mechanisms of oxygen atoms (O) in nickel (Ni) in the temperature range 950 K–1600 K. It is observed that oxygen does not diffuse via jumps of oxygen through interstitial sites but via a vacancy diffusion mechanism. The oxygen diffusivity can be well described by an Arrhenius law over the temperature range considered. The oxygen diffusion coefficient has been analysed and indicates a value of E a = 1.99 eV for the activation energy and D 0 = 39.2 cm 2 s − 1 for the pre-exponential factor. Our numerical results were compared with a compilation of experimental and theoretical studies, and exhibit a good agre…

An empirical method to determine the free surface energy of solids at different deformations and temperatures regimes : An application to Al.

Abstract We have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the three low index surfaces of Al to determine the variation of the surface energy as a function of deformation and temperature. We have also developed an empirical formulation for the surface free energy as a function of deformation. The observed difference between the numerical and analytical results has led us to divide the deformation into a mechanical and a thermal contribution. From this observation, we have obtained an expression for the surface free energy placing the temperature dependence on the bulk and surface elastic constants. Our simulations permitted us to analyze the multilayer relaxation for the particul…

Determination of the stress distribution at the interface metal-oxide: Numerical and theoretical considerations

In this paper we give a brief presentation of the approaches we have recently developed on the oxidation of metals. Firstly, we present an analytical model based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics to describe the reaction kinetics present during the oxidation of a metal. Secondly, we present the molecular dynamics results obtained with a code specially tailored to study the oxidation and growth of an oxide film of aluminium. Our simulations present an excellent agreement with experimental results.

Oxidation of nanocrystalline aluminum by variable charge molecular dynamics

International audience; We investigate the oxidation of nanocrystalline aluminum surfaces using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the variable charge model that allows charge dynamically transfer among atoms. The interaction potential between atoms is described by the electrostatic plus (Es+) potential model, which is composed of an embedded atom method potential and an electrostatic term. The simulations were performed from 300 to 750K on polycrystalline samples with a mean grain size of 5 nanometers. We mainly focused on the effect of the temperature parameter on the oxidation kinetic. The results show that, beyond a first linear regime, the kinetics follow a direct logarithmic law…

An Interfacial Thermodynamic Model for the Oxidation Kinetics of a Metal: Epitaxial Stress Effects

Dislocation interaction with C in α-Fe: a comparison between atomic simulations and elasticity theory

International audience; The interaction of C atoms with a screw and an edge dislocation is modelled at an atomic scale using an empirical Fe-C interatomic potential based on the Embedded Atom Method (EAM) and molecular statics simulations. Results of atomic simulations are compared with predictions of elasticity theory. It is shown that a quantitative agreement can be obtained between both modelling techniques as long as anisotropic elastic calculations are performed and both the dilatation and the tetragonal distortion induced by the C interstitial are considered. Using isotropic elasticity allows to predict the main trends of the interaction and considering only the interstitial dilatatio…

A variable charge molecular dynamics study of the initial stage of nickel oxidation

Abstract The oxidation of nickel single crystals is investigated by using variable charge molecular dynamics. The simulations are performed on three nickel low-index surfaces ((1 0 0), (1 1 0) and (1 1 1)) at temperatures between 300 K and 950 K. The results show that the shape of the oxidation kinetics is independent of the crystallographic orientation and the temperature under the present conditions. The oxide thin film grows according to an island growth mode, this initial stage of oxidation can be divided in three steps: (i) the dissociative chemisorption step (ii) the oxide island nucleation and (iii) the lateral growth of the island. The first step is slowdown/speedup by the surface o…

Numerical Simulations on the Growth of Thin Oxide Films on Aluminum Substrates

We investigated the oxidation of nanocrystalline aluminum surfaces by using variable charge molecular dynamics at 600 K under three oxygen pressures: 1, 10 and 20 atm. The interaction potential was described by the electrostatic plus (Es+) model that allows dynamical charge transfer among atoms. We mainly focused on the effect of the oxygen pressure on the oxidation kinetic, the chemical composition and the microstructure of the oxide films formed. The results show that oxidation kinetics as well as chemical composition and microstructure depend on the applied oxygen pressure. The oxide film thickness tends to a limiting value equal to ~3 nm. Finally, we obtained a partially crystalline oxi…