Magnetic Dislocations Research Articles

Synergistic improvement of strength and ductility by high magnetic field assisted intercritical annealing in lightweight medium Mn steel

The microstructures and mechanical properties of lightweight medium Mn steels were studied by high magnetic field (HMF) assisted intercritical annealing process (HMF-IA). The results show that the volume fraction of retained austenite increased and reached the maximum value of 56.2 % when the magnetic flux density (MFD) was 10 T at first and then decreased with the increase of MFD. The application of 10 T HMF promoted the diffusion ability of carbon atoms into austenite by magnetic stress-driven dislocation movement and increased the volume fraction and grain size of austenite. HMF also played a critical role in dislocation movement and element partitioning during the IA process. Due to the wide range of bimodal size distribution of austenite after the HMF-IA process, stronger transformation induced plasticity effect and twin induced plasticity effect happened in the process of plastic deformation. For the sample annealed under 10 T, comparing with the sample annealed without HMF, the product of strength and elongation value increased from 45.7 GPa·% to 55.1 GPa·%. Additionally, it also kept a persistent high strain hardening. The present study provides a new understanding of the role of HMF in adjusting the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties during the annealing process and opens up a new path for designing industrial medium Mn steel with low cost, high performance and simple process.

Mechanism in scratching of calcium fluoride with magneto-plasticity

Magnetic field-tuned dislocation plasticity (i.e., magneto-plasticity) has attracted growing attention for assistance to limit the damage evolution of brittle ceramics in the material removal process. However, the mechanism controlling material removal of brittle ceramics with magneto-plasticity remains far from clear. Therefore, combined stress field modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for scratching of a ceramic material, calcium fluoride (CaF2), to investigate the magneto-plasticity mechanism during the material removal process of brittle ceramics. The stress field calculation with magneto-plasticity was first conducted, which suggests a general reduction in scratching stress on the subsurface under the magnetic field effect. It is also found that the degree of reduction in scratching stress is significantly influenced by the magnetic field intensity and direction as well as strain rate. The reduced scratching stress is responsible for the suppressed formation and evolution of cracks and defects in scratching. Subsequently, MD simulations in scratching of CaF2 show that the application of a magnetic field can facilitate dislocation nucleation, enlarge the range of dislocation propagation, and regularize the dislocation distribution, indicating the advancement in elastic-plastic transition and dislocation mobility. From the views of energy criterion and crystal plasticity, a magnetic field can decrease the required work and resolved shear stress for dislocation slip, which results in a lower scratching stress level. The combined theoretical method of this study broadens the comprehension of magneto-plasticity on deformation mechanism in the material removal process of ceramics and offers theoretical direction for the application of magnetic field assistance in ceramic processing.

“Elastic” and “inelastic” twins and pinning of magnetic flux lines (vortices) in single crystals YBa2Cu3O7–x

In this work, we studied the fixation of magnetic vortices (pinning effect) on “inelastic” and “elastic” twins, whose wedge-shaped peaks in the direction of twinning do not reach the crystal surface. The effectiveness of the “elastic” twins effect as pinning centers was studied by measuring of the critical transport current Jc in single crystals YBa2Cu3O7–x. The presented experimental data indicate that the “elastic” twins boundaries are effective pinning centers of the magnetic flux lines in single crystals of the compound under study. The main pinning centers of the vortices are dislocation clusters forming at the vertices of the “elastic” twins. The dislocation lines are located in the twin plane and, if the orientation of the magnetic vortices and dislocation lines coincide, the energy of the vortices decreases, the pinning force appears, fixing their location, which ultimately leads to an increase in the critical density of the transport electric current.

Risk of magnetic resonance imaging-induced magnet dislocation for different types of cochlear implants: a single-center retrospective study

BackgroundWhen performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a cochlear implant (CI), complication rates vary widely in the literature. The primary objective of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of complications, in particular magnet dislocation, in patients with CI undergoing 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI. As a secondary objective, the prevalence of magnet dislocation for specific cochlear implant device types was elaborated.MethodsIn a single-center retrospective study, all patients with a cochlear implant presenting for an MRI examination at 1.5 T at our institution between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2020 were included. Implants with axial and diametrical magnets were included in the study. MRI safety measures were applied before imaging. The prevalence of complications was evaluated. Magnet dislocation rates were calculated for device types with at least 20 MRI exposures.ResultsDuring the study period, 196 MRI examinations were performed in a total of 128 patients, accounting for 149 different implants (21 implanted bilaterally) with a total of 231 implant exposures to MRI (average 1.69 ± 1.57; min. 1, max. 12). Complications were reported in 50 out of 231 cochlear implant exposures (21.6%). Magnet dislocation occurred in a total of 27 cases (11.7%). Dislocation rates were 29.6% for the Cochlear® CI500 series (24 dislocations from 81 exposures), 1.1% for the Cochlear® CI24RE series (1 from 87) and 0% for the MED-EL® Synchrony (0 from 36). The dislocation rate for the CI500 was significantly higher than for the CI24RE (χ2(1) = 26.86; p < 0.001; ϕ = 0.40) or the Synchrony (χ2(1) = 13.42; p < 0.001; ϕ = 0.34).ConclusionsFor 1.5 T MRI, the risk of magnet dislocation ranges from 0 to 29.6% and depends on the CI device type. Implants with a diametrical magnet can be considered potentially MRI-safe, whereas in CIs with axial magnets, the CI500 is at high risk of magnet dislocation. Therefore, apart from a strict indication for an MRI and adherence to safety protocols, post-MRI follow-up examination to rule out magnet dislocation is recommended.Graphical

Probing the structural evolution and its impact on magnetic properties of FeCoNi(AlMn)x high-entropy alloy at the nanoscale

We report the first nanoscale investigation of FeCoNi(AlMn) x high-entropy alloys (HEAs) processed by laser metal deposition. The structural evolution of the alloy upon chemical composition variation (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 1.5) was investigated by combining imaging and spectroscopies in (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (S)TEM with density functional theory (DFT). A gradual change from a face-centered cubic (FCC) towards an ordered full-Heusler (L2 1 ) phase by increasing the Al and Mn contents was observed. Direct imaging and atomic-scale calculations revealed a nanoscale interplay between B2 and L2 1 ordered structures for x = 1.5, wherein the latter, Al and Mn occupy two different Wyckoff sites. By decreasing x, the FCC phase dominates exhibiting intense phase separation tendency, ordering phenomena, and nano-precipitation. Although not chemically discriminated, plasmon-peak splitting in low-loss electron energy loss spectra revealed the presence of two valence electron densities within the FCC phase. Lorentz TEM showed that the ordered nano-precipitates and nano-sized grains with a structure based on a tripled FCC unit cell are pinning-sites for magnetic domain walls and dislocations. All alloy compositions exhibited soft-magnetic behavior with coercivity ( H c ) values< 1000 A/m. The FeCoNi(AlMn) 1.5 alloy with L2 1 /B2 nanostructure showed the highest magnetization ( M s ) with relatively low H c , attributed to the large magnetic moment of Mn and the synergistic effect of Mn-Al according to DFT, whilst ordering does not impose a negative effect. Phase separation trends within the FCC phase seem to decrease the M s however, the overall impact on the magnetic behavior is not intense, opening up for new avenues for tuning FeCoNiAlMn properties through chemically-designed phase decomposition regimes. • First nanoscale investigation of FeCoNi(AlMn)x HEAs processed by LMD, combining advanced (S)TEM and DFT calculations. • Ordering phenomena - nanoscale interplay between B2 and L21, ordered superstructures - and impact on magnetic properties. • Atomic site occupancy resolved by direct imaging and atomic-scale calculations. • Phase separation in FCC opens up avenues for tuning alloy properties through chemically-designed decomposition regimes. • All alloy compositions exhibited soft-magnetic behavior with coercivity values< 1000 A/m.

Detection of Topological Spin Textures via Nonlinear Magnetic Responses.

Topologically nontrivial spin textures, such as skyrmions and dislocations, display emergent electrodynamics and can be moved by spin currents over macroscopic distances. These unique properties and their nanoscale size make them excellent candidates for the development of next-generation race-track memory and unconventional computing. A major challenge for these applications and the investigation of nanoscale magnetic structures in general is the realization of suitable detection schemes. We study magnetic disclinations, dislocations, and domain walls in FeGe and reveal pronounced responses that distinguish them from the helimagnetic background. A combination of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and micromagnetic simulations links the response to the local magnetic susceptibility, that is, characteristic changes in the spin texture driven by the MFM tip. On the basis of the findings, which we explain using nonlinear response theory, we propose a read-out scheme using superconducting microcoils, presenting an innovative approach for detecting topological spin textures and domain walls in device-relevant geometries.

Reversal of domain walls drift direction in a low-frequency magnetic field in iron garnet crystals

The reversal of domain walls (DWs) drift direction in (110) iron garnet plate with shape anisotropy with an increase of the amplitude of an alternating harmonic magnetic field was established experimentally. The harmonic magnetic field H = H0sin(2πft) (f = 3–1000 Hz, H0 up to 2.2⋅104 A/m) was applied perpendicular to the plane of the sample. The DW drift velocities and intensities of nucleation centers of magnetic dislocations (MDs) were measured. It is proposed that the reason for the reversal of direction of the DW drift is a change of direction of the gradient of demagnetizing fields in the sample with an increase of the external field amplitude. The change in configuration of an internal magnetic field is indicated by the experimentally established change in the activity of MD nucleation centers with the increase of the external field amplitude. A model is proposed in which direction and speed of DW drift are determined by magnetic field gradient in the sample.

Effect of pulse magnetic field treatment on the hardness of 20Cr2Ni4A steel

This article reports that pulse magnetic treatment affects the hardness of 20Cr2Ni4A steel and combs the structure to make it more uniform. According to the experimental requirements, the pulsed magnetic processing system is designed and built, and 1 T, 4 T, 9 T pulsed magnetic processing is applied to the material. The mechanical properties of 20Cr2Ni4A steel before and after magnetic field treatment were quantitatively studied by measuring microhardness and residual stress. XRD and EBSD data are used to analyze the interstitial carbon content and the change of Fe-C comparison. Calculate the dislocation density, and further observe the dislocation structure by TEM. The magnetic domain is characterized by MFM and illustrates the effect of pulsed magnetic treatment on the magnetic domain and dislocations. The results show that the alloy steel has better mechanical properties after pulse magnetic treatment. As the magnetic field intensity increases, the average microhardness increases, and the hardness range is reduced. Different magnetic field treatments reduce the average residual stress of the material, especially after 1 T magnetic field treatment, the average residual stress is reduced by 34.4%, and residual stress distribution is more uniform. The magnetic treatment increases the solute carbon content in the gap of 20Cr2Ni4A steel by about 0.01% and the proportion of α-Fe phase increases. In addition, the magnetic field treatment reduces the dislocation density in the dislocation accumulation area, the proliferation and diffusion of dislocations increase the overall dislocation density. The magnetic domain changes from labyrinth with higher stress to lamellar with lower stress, so stress concentration is weakened and the distribution of residual stress is uniform. This study shows that pulsed magnetic treatment regulates the hardness and residual stress of 20Cr2Ni4A steel, homogenizes the structure of the material and improves the overall performance.

Noninertial effects on a scalar field in a spacetime with a magnetic screw dislocation

We investigate rotating effects on a charged scalar field immersed in spacetime with a magnetic screw dislocation. In addition to the hard-wall potential, which we impose to satisfy a boundary condition from the rotating effect, we insert a Coulomb-type potential and the Klein–Gordon oscillator into this system, where, analytically, we obtain solutions of bound states which are influenced not only by the spacetime topology, but also by the rotating effects, as a Sagnac-type effect modified by the presence of the magnetic screw dislocation.

Current-driven production of vortex-antivortex pairs in planar Josephson junction arrays and phase cracks in long-range order

Proliferation of topological defects like vortices and dislocations plays a key role in the physics of systems with long-range order, particularly, superconductivity and superfluidity in thin films, plasticity of solids, and melting of atomic monolayers. Topological defects are characterized by their topological charge reflecting fundamental symmetries and conservation laws of the system. Conservation of topological charge manifests itself in extreme stability of static topological defects because destruction of a single defect requires overcoming a huge energy barrier proportional to the system size. However, the stability of driven topological defects remains largely unexplored. Here we address this issue and investigate numerically a dynamic instability of moving vortices in planar arrays of Josephson junctions. We show that a single vortex driven by sufficiently strong current becomes unstable and destroys superconductivity by triggering a chain reaction of self-replicating vortex-antivortex pairs forming linear of branching expanding patterns. This process can be described in terms of propagating phase cracks in long-range order with far-reaching implications for dynamic systems of interacting spins and atoms hosting magnetic vortices and dislocations.

Safety of intrauterine devices in MRI.

ObjectivesThe paucity of safety information on intrauterine devices (IUD) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations is clinically relevant. The aim of this study is to evaluate the MRI safety of clinically used IUDs composed of copper/gold and stainless steel at 1.5T and 3.0T.Materials and methodsWe assessed and compared the displacement force, torque effects, presence of imaging artifacts and heating of IUDs composed of copper/gold (western IUDs) and stainless steel (China) on 1.5 and 3.0T MRI systems.ResultsGold/Copper IUDs can show small deflection angles of 7° ± 7° in the worst-case field gradient of 40T/m (equivalent to magnetic force of 0.5 mN), while the stainless steel IUD experienced significant magnetic force and deflection (Force > 7.5 N; deflection angle 90° ± 1°). Manual rotation and suspension method show no torque effects on gold/copper IUDs but high torque effects were observed by manual rotation on the stainless steel IUD. Heating measurements showed a temperature increase (rescaled to a wbSAR of 4 W/kg) of 1.4°C at 1.5T / 3.4°C at 3.0 T (stainless steel IUD), 3.2°C at 1.5 T / 3.8°C at 3 T (copper/gold IUD), 3.3°C at 1.5 T / 4.8°C at 3 T (copper 1), 3.8°C at 1.5 T / 4.8°C at 3 T (copper 2). The visible imaging artifacts of the copper and gold IUDs at 3 T MRI reach a diameter of 4 mm ± 1 mm, while the stainless steel IUD resulted in artifacts measuring 200mm ± 10 mm when using gradient echo pulse sequences.ConclusionsStandard IUDs (copper/gold) can be considered as conditional for MR safety at 1.5 T and 3.0 T, demonstrating at wbSAR up to 4W/kg and a magnetic field gradient of up to 40T/m with minimal imaging artifacts. The stainless steel IUD, however, induces unacceptable artifacts and is potentially harmful to patients during MRI due to high magnetic dislocation forces and torque (MR unsafe).

Straight motion of half-integer topological defects in thin Fe-N magnetic films with stripe domains

In thin magnetic films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, a periodic “up-down” stripe-domain structure can be originated at remanence, on a mesoscopic scale (~100 nm) comparable with film thickness, by the competition between short-range exchange coupling and long-range dipolar interaction. However, translational order is perturbed because magnetic edge dislocations are spontaneously nucleated. Such topological defects play an important role in magnetic films since they promote the in-plane magnetization reversal of stripes and, in superconductor/ferromagnet hybrids, the creation of superconducting vortex clusters. Combining magnetic force microscopy experiments and micromagnetic simulations, we investigated the motion of two classes of magnetic edge dislocations, randomly distributed in an {{rm{N}}}_{2}^{+}-implanted Fe film. They were found to move in opposite directions along straight trajectories parallel to the stripes axis, when driven by a moderate dc magnetic field. Using the approximate Thiele equation, analytical expressions for the forces acting on such magnetic defects and a microscopic explanation for the direction of their motion could be obtained. Straight trajectories are related to the presence of a periodic stripe domain pattern, which imposes the gyrotropic force to vanish even if a nonzero, half-integer topological charge is carried by the defects in some layers across the film thickness.

Magnetic Hysteresis Loop Technique as a NDE Tool for the Evaluation of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 2.25Cr–1Mo Steel

This study intends to understand the effect of short-term overheating on microstructure modifications, and variation in mechanical and magnetic properties of boiler tubes. It is based on the hypothesis that short-term overheating on boiler tubes leads to microstructural changes degrading their mechanical properties, thus resulting in their failure. As part of this study, fresh 2.25Cr–1Mo boiler tube samples were heat treated in the range of 700–950 $$^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ . Magnetic hysteresis loop (MHL) measurements were carried for the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of the mechanical properties that get altered due to microstructural modifications. For comparison, MHL was also carried out on a service-exposed boiler tube, which had failed due to short-term overheating. The magnetic parameters were correlated with the change in microstructure and micro-hardness of the samples. A decrease in coercivity, remanence, maximum induction and micro hardness were found at the lower soaking temperatures, due to: easy magnetic domain wall and dislocation motions for the stress relaxation; annihilation and recovery of dislocations; increase in inter carbide distance; and the decrease in the number density of carbides for the coarsening of carbides. A subsequent increase in coercivity, remanence and maximum inductions along with hardness are due to the nucleation and growth of fresh bainitic phase, obstructing the magnetic domain wall and dislocation motion. A drastic decrease in coercivity for the service-exposed tube is due to the transformation of MX type carbides to $$\hbox {M}_{23}\hbox {C}_{6}$$ type and accumulation of such carbides at the grain boundaries along with the decrease in number density of the carbides. The presence of scale has less effect on the coercivity, but its demagnetizing effect largely decreases the remanence and maximum induction. The results of the study show that the MHL can be a suitable NDE technique for the evaluation of change in microstructure and degradation of mechanical properties in power plant steels.

Motion and Interaction of Magnetic Dislocations in Alternating Magnetic Field

The behavior of magnetic dislocations (MDs) in an alternating harmonic magnetic field in iron garnets has been experimentally investigated. The results are presented for single-crystal plates in which the drift of domain walls is observed in fields of sound frequencies. It is found that MDs in a stripe domain structure are able to move not only along but also across domain walls. A pairwise interaction between magnetic dislocations when they approach each other to distances on the order of the sizes of the cores of MDs is revealed. The processes of the annihilation, mutual passing of magnetic dislocations through each other and overtaking are found. The features of the dynamic behavior of MDs are explained using a mechanism based on the presence of vertical Bloch lines in a structure of domain walls. MDs are formed at nucleation centers, and their nucleation field is lower than the drift-starting field, which corresponds to previously proposed dislocational mechanism of the drift. The dependencies of quantitative parameters of the drift and MDs on amplitude and frequency of the pumping field are determined. The behavior of MDs should be considered when analyzing the mechanisms for magnetization and temperature-dependent phase transitions in magnetic layers.

Mechanical Properties Improvement of Laser Tailor Welded Blanks of DP600 Steel by Magnetic Treatment

The influence of magnetic treatment on the yield strength, the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation of laser tailor welded blanks (TWBs) of DP600 steel was investigated by uniaxial tensile tests. The experimental results showed that the yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength of the TWBs had only a slight change, but the elongation increased by 13.90%–36.23% after the magnetic treatment. The dislocation distributions in the fusion zone (FZ) and the heat-affected zone (HAZ) were observed respectively by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that after magnetic treatment, the dislocations in both the FZ and the HAZ of the TWBs increased and showed a relatively uniform distribution. The mechanism of the mechanical property improvement of the TWBs by the magnetic treatment was then revealed on the basis of the relationship model between the dislocation and shear strain, considering the evolution of magnetic domains and Frank-Read dislocation multiplication in a magnetic field.

Local dynamics of topological magnetic defects in the itinerant helimagnet FeGe

Chiral magnetic interactions induce complex spin textures including helical and conical spin spirals, as well as particle-like objects such as magnetic skyrmions and merons. These spin textures are the basis for innovative device paradigms and give rise to exotic topological phenomena, thus being of interest for both applied and fundamental sciences. Present key questions address the dynamics of the spin system and emergent topological defects. Here we analyse the micromagnetic dynamics in the helimagnetic phase of FeGe. By combining magnetic force microscopy, single-spin magnetometry and Landau–Lifschitz–Gilbert simulations we show that the nanoscale dynamics are governed by the depinning and subsequent motion of magnetic edge dislocations. The motion of these topologically stable objects triggers perturbations that can propagate over mesoscopic length scales. The observation of stochastic instabilities in the micromagnetic structure provides insight to the spatio-temporal dynamics of itinerant helimagnets and topological defects, and discloses open challenges regarding their technological usage.

Effect of plastic deformation on the magnetic properties and dislocation luminescence of isotopically enriched silicon 29Si:B

A correlation between the temperature dependences of the D1-line intensity of dislocation luminescence and the magnetic moment of plastically deformed isotopically enriched crystals 29Si:B is found. It is established that the magnetic susceptibility of the deformed crystals obtained by integration of the spectra of electron spin resonance and the D1-line intensity undergo similar nonmonotonic variations with temperature varying in the range of 20–32 K.

Classification of two-dimensional topological crystalline superconductors and Majorana bound states at disclinations

We classify discrete-rotation symmetric topological crystalline superconductors (TCS) in two dimensions and provide the criteria for a zero-energy Majorana bound state (MBS) to be present at composite defects made from magnetic flux, dislocations, and disclinations. In addition to the Chern number that encodes chirality, discrete rotation symmetry further divides TCS into distinct stable topological classes according to the rotation eigenspectrum of Bogoliubov-de Gennes quasiparticles. Conical crystalline defects are shown to be able to accommodate robust MBS when a certain combination of these bulk topological invariants is nontrivial as dictated by the index theorems proved within. The number parity of MBS is counted by a ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$-valued index that solely depends on the disclination and the topological class of the TCS. We also discuss the implications for corner-bound Majorana modes on the boundary of topological crystalline superconductors.

An investigation on the mechanical property changing mechanism of high speed steel by pulsed magnetic treatment

An investigation was carried out to analyze and quantify the mechanical property changing mechanism of high speed steel by pulsed magnetic treatment. Specifically, a pulsed magnetic treatment system was designed and applied to the tool material treatment. The micro-hardness and red hardness were measured to quantitatively investigate the influence of magnetic treatment on the mechanical properties. Results showed that high speed steel material possessed better mechanical properties using the proposed pulsed magnetic treatment, of which the maximum increase of micro-hardness was 50HV. Also, the red hardness with low temperature could be improved. Moreover, the influence of magnetic treatment conditions on the micro-hardness change rate was investigated. It was shown that the micro-hardness change rate first increases and then stabilizes with the increase of magnetic field intensity, and it decreases with the increase of magnetization time. Ultimately, the dislocation densities were calculated by XRD data analysis according to the Williamson–Hall method and the interaction between magnetic field and dislocation was discussed in detail. Results revealed that the dislocation density of high speed steel material increased by 24% after pulsed magnetic treatment. The dislocation multiplication and motion induced by magnetic field led to the increase of dislocation density, which was the main reason of the increase in micro-hardness. The dislocation pile-up mechanism was responsible for the treatment effects of different magnetic treatment conditions. The dislocation configuration determined from TEM micrographs was in good agreement with the X-ray results and the discussion of dislocation mechanisms.

Micro-mechanism of metal magnetic memory signal variation during fatigue

Tensile fatigue tests were designed to study the relation between the tangential magnetic memory signal and dislocations. According to experimental results, in the early stage of fatigue, the magnetic signal and the dislocation density rapidly increase; while in the middle stage, the magnetic signal gradually increases, the dislocation density remains steady, and only the dislocation structure develops. On the other hand, in the later stage, the magnetic signal once again increases rapidly, the dislocation structure continues to develop, and microscopic cracks are formed. Analysis reveals that the dislocations block the movement of the domain wall, and the area of dislocation accumulation thus becomes an internal magnetic source and scatters a field outward. In addition, the magnetic memory field strengthens with increasing dislocation density and complexity of the dislocation structure. Accordingly, the dislocation pinning factor related with the dislocation density and the dislocation structure has been proposed to characterize the effect of dislocations on the magnetic memory signal. The magnetic signal strengthens with an increase in the dislocation pinning factor.