Phase Transitions in Ferroelastic and Co-elastic Crystals

by E. K. Salje

Overview

Many materials used in industry are crystals. These crystals often show anomalies, such as sudden softening or embrittlement at certain temperatures. If controlled, such behavior can be extremely useful, for manufacturing and high-technology applications. This is one of the first books to describe the recently determined physical origins of such behavior, and provides an insight into the important thermodynamic principles and microstructural properties involved. It starts with the fundamental principles of structural phase transitions in materials. Ferroelasticity, twinning and related microstructures are then described. Landau-type theories of phase transitions are introduced, together with details of elastic and specific heat anomalies, the formation of spontaneous strain, and the generation of solitary waves at temperatures close to the transition point.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521429368
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/22/1993
Series:	Cambridge Topics in Mineral Physics and Chemistry , #1
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction and some definitions; 2. Ferroelastic and co-elastic phase transitions; 3. The Landau potential; 4. The spontaneous strain; 5. Coupling between the spontaneous strain and the order parameter; 6. Macroscopic classification of ferroic and co-elastic crystals; 7. Ferroelastic and co-elastic twin structures; 8. Domain mobilities and elastic instabilities in ferroelastic and co-elastic materials; 9. Specific heat anomalies and the excess entropy; 10. Coupling between order parameters in ferroelastic and co-elastic crystals; 11. Gradient coupling and strain modulations; 12. Some aspects of the kinetic behaviour of ferroelastic and co-elastic crystals: an outlook; References.

Editorial Reviews

"...the author is admired for integrating the subject at its infancy; the book describes phenomena, domain structures, and theories of phase transition and wall mobility, with generous illustrations of geologically interesting materials. The first few chapters are suitable for general reading, the level being similar to the articles in Scientific American. The more persistent readers will benefit from later chapters and a long bibliography of known co-elastic crystals. I strongly recommend this book to all science and engineering libraries, as well as to anyone who wishes to learn ferroelasticity." Z. Suo,

From the Publisher