Vacancy-decomposition-induced lattice instability and its correlation with the kinetic stability limit of crystals

Vacancy decomposition kinetics in crystals at elevated temperatures is analysed. It is found that lattice instability is induced by a significantly enhanced vacancy decomposition at a critical temperature (T*). The critical temperature coincides with the kinetic instability limit ( kinetic limit of superheating) of crystals in a variety of metals determined from the homogeneous nucleation catastrophe model.