Laves Phase Alloys and Their Mechanical Properties
Summary
Laves phase alloys are a class of intermetallic compounds with AB₂ stoichiometry, notable for their topologically close-packed crystal structures, typically manifesting as cubic (C15) or hexagonal (C14, C36) polytypes. These phases exhibit high hardness and elastic moduli, arising from strong metallic bonding and dense atomic packing. Despite traditionally brittle behaviour at ambient temperature, recent advances have revealed mechanisms of plasticity that can be harnessed through compositional tuning and microstructural design. Non-stoichiometric variants expand the homogeneity range and introduce defects that influence dislocation mobility and yield stress. Functionally, Laves phases serve in hydrogen storage alloys, magnetostrictive sensors and wear-resistant coatings, while structurally they contribute to creep strength in high-temperature steels and advanced superalloys. Control of interplanar spacing, local shear modulus and defect populations at the atomic scale now enables tailored mechanical responses, bridging the gap between hardness and toughness and opening pathways for novel high-performance structural materials.
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Laves Phase Alloys and Their Mechanical Properties publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in laves phase alloys and their mechanical properties across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Laves phase: An intermetallic compound with AB₂ stoichiometry and topologically close-packed structures, commonly in C14, C15 or C36 polytypes.
Polytype: A variant of a crystal structure differing only in the stacking sequence of atomic layers, as in hexagonal (C14, C36) versus cubic (C15) Laves phases.
Topologically close-packed (TCP) phase: A family of intermetallics characterised by densely packed atomic arrangements and complex coordination geometries.
Synchroshear: A deformation mechanism in which shear displacements occur synchronously across adjacent atomic planes, typical in complex intermetallics.
Critical resolved shear stress (CRSS): The minimum shear stress required to initiate slip in a specific crystallographic system.
Indentation modulus: An apparent elastic modulus measured by indentation testing, reflecting stiffness at small scales.
References
- Tailoring the Plasticity of Topologically Close‐Packed Phases via the Crystals’ Fundamental Building Blocks. Advanced Materials (2023).
- Plasticity of the C15-CaAl2 Laves phase at room temperature. Materials & Design (2023).
- Laves phases: a review of their functional and structural applications and an improved fundamental understanding of stability and properties. Journal of Materials Science (2020).
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