Strong impact of spin fluctuations on the antiphase boundaries of weak itinerant ferromagnetic Ni3Al

Antiphase boundaries (APBs) are crucial to understand the anomalous temperature dependence of the yield stress of Ni3Al. However, the required, accurate prediction of temperature-dependent APB energies has been missing. In particular, the impact of magnetism at elevated temperatures has been mostly neglected, based on the argument that Ni3Al is a weak ferromagnet. Here, we show that this is an inappropriate assumption and that - in addition to anharmonic and electronic excitations - thermally-induced magnetic spin fluctuations strongly affect the APB energies, especially for the (100)APB with an increase of nearly up to 40% over the nonmagnetic data. We utilize an ab initio framework that incorporates explicit lattice vibrations, electronic excitations, and the impact of magnetic excitations up to the melting temperature. Our results prompt to take full account of thermally-induced spin fluctuations even for weak itinerant ferromagnetic materials. Consequences for large-scale modeling in Ni-based superalloys, e.g., of dislocations or the elastic-plastic behavior, can be expected.

Automated summary

APBs are important for understanding the temperature dependence of the yield stress of Ni3Al. Accurate prediction of temperature-dependent APB energies has been lacking, and the impact of magnetism at elevated temperatures has been neglected. We show that thermally-induced magnetic spin fluctuations significantly affect the APB energies, especially for the (100)APB. Our results highlight the need to consider these spin fluctuations even for weak ferromagnetic materials like Ni3Al and the potential consequences for large-scale modeling in Ni-based superalloys.