Atomic-scale modeling of dislocations and related properties in the hexagonal-close-packed metals

Metals with the hcp crystal structure have a wide variety of mechanical and physical properties, and understanding the links between atomic processes, microstructure, and properties can open the way for new applications. Computer modeling can provide much of the information required. This article reviews recent progress in atomic-scale computer simulation in three important areas. The first is the core structure of dislocations responsible for the primary slip modes, where modeling has revealed the variety of core states that can arise in pure, elemental metals and ordered alloys. While most research has successfully employed many-body, central-force interatomic potentials, they are inadequate for metals which have an unfilled d-electron band, such as α-Ti and α-Zr, and the resulting noncentral character of the atomic bonding is shown to have subtle yet significant effects on dislocation properties. Deformation twinning is an important process in plasticity of the hcp metals, and modeling has been used to investigate the factors that control the structure and mobility of twinning dislocations. Furthermore, simulation shows that twinning dislocations are actually generated, in some cases, following the interaction of crystal dislocations with twin boundaries; this can lead to the very mobile boundaries observed experimentally. The final area concerns the nature and properties of the defects created by radiation damage. Computer simulation has been used to determine the number and arrangement of defects produced in primary, displacement-cascade damage in several hcp metals. The number is similar to that found in cubic metals and is considerably smaller than that expected from earlier models. Many self-interstitial atoms cluster in cascades to form highly glissile dislocation loops, and, so, contribute to two-dimensional material transport in damage evolution.     

Interfacial deformation mechanisms in hexagonal-close-packed metals

Deformation processes involving interfacial dislocation mechanisms in twin boundaries of hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) metals are described. The topological properties of individual defects, namely their Burgers vectors, b, and step heights, h, are defined rigorously, and the magnitude of the diffusional flux of material required for motion of a defect along an interface is expressed quantitatively in terms of b, h, and the material’s density. This framework enables interactions between defects to be treated and, in particular, enables identification of processes that are conservative. Using these topological arguments, it is shown that sessile interfacial defects in twins need not block further twinning and that the recently discovered Serra-Bacon (S—B) twinning mechanism is conservative. The possible wider significance of the S—B-type mechanism that causes localized lateral growth of twins is also considered briefly in the context of the deformation of hcp and martensitic materials. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Lousiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Interfacial deformation mechanisms in hexagonal-close-packed metals

Deformation processes involving interfacial dislocation mechanisms in twin boundaries of hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) metals are described. The topological properties of individual defects, namely their Burgers vectors, b, and step heights, h, are defined rigorously, and the magnitude of the diffusional flux of material required for motion of a defect along an interface is expressed quantitatively in terms of b, h, and the material’s density. This framework enables interactions between defects to be treated and, in particular, enables identification of processes that are conservative. Using these topological arguments, it is shown that sessile interfacial defects in twins need not block further twinning and that the recently discovered Serra-Bacon (S-B) twinning mechanism is conservative. The possible wider significance of the S-B-type mechanism that causes localized lateral growth of twins is also considered briefly in the context of the deformation of hcp and martensitic materials. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Nonbasal deformation modes of HCP metals and alloys: Role of dislocation source and mobility

A review is presented on the role of dislocation cores and planar faults in activating the nonbasal deformation modes, 〈c+a〉 pyramidal slip and deformation twinning, in hcp metals and alloys and in D0₁₉ intermetallic compounds. Material-specific mechanical behavior arises from a competition between altemate defect structures that determine the deformation modes. We emphasize the importance of accurate atomistic modeling of these defects, going beyond simple interatomic energy models. Recent results from both experiments and theory are summarized by discussing specific examples of Ti and Mg single crystals; Ti-, Zr-, and Mg-base alloys; and Ti₃Al ordered alloys. Remaining key issues and directions for future research are also discussed. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM and TMS committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Effects of high rates of loading on the deformation behavior and failure mechanisms of hexagonal close-packed metals and alloys

A substantial amount of work has been performed on the effect of high rates of loading on the deformation and failure of fcc and bcc metals. In contrast, the influence of high strain rates and temperature on the flow stress of hcp metals has received relatively little attention, and the modes of dynamic failure of these materials are poorly characterized. The low symmetry of these materials and the development of twinning lead to a particularly rich set of potential mechanisms for deformation and failure at high rates. This article reviews results of high-strain-rate deformation and dynamic failure studies on hcp metals, with a focus on titanium, Ti-6Al-4V, and hafnium. Strain rates as high as 10⁵ s ⁻¹ are considered, and observations of adiabatic shear localization and subsequent failure are discussed. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Nonbasal deformation modes of HCP metals and alloys: Role of dislocation source and mobility

A review is presented on the role of dislocation cores and planar faults in activating the nonbasal deformation modes, <c + a> pyramidal slip and deformation twinning, in hcp metals and alloys and in D0₁₉ intermetallic compounds. Material-specific mechanical behavior arises from a competition between alternate defect structures that determine the deformation modes. We emphasize the importance of accurate atomistic modeling of these defects, going beyond simple interatomic energy models. Recent results from both experiments and theory are summarized by discussing specific examples of Ti and Mg single crystals; Ti-, Zr-, and Mg-base alloys; and Ti₃Al ordered alloys. Remaining key issues and directions for future research are also discussed. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM and TMS committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Effects of high rates of loading on the deformation behavior and failure mechanisms of hexagonal close-packed metals and alloys

A substantial amount of work has been performed on the effect of high rates of loading on the deformation and failure of fcc and bcc metals. In contrast, the influence of high strain rates and temperature on the flow stress of hcp metals has received relatively little attention, and the modes of dynamic failure of these materials are poorly characterized. The low symmetry of these materials and the development of twinning lead to a particularly rich set of potential mechanisms for deformation and failure at high rates. This article reviews results of high-strain-rate deformation and dynamic failure studies on hcp metals, with a focus on titanium, Ti-6Al-4V, and hafnium. Strain rates as high as 10⁵ s ⁻¹ are considered, and observations of adiabatic shear localization and subsequent failure are discussed. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Mobility of interstitial clusters in alpha-zirconium

Clusters of self-interstitial atoms (SIAs) formed in displacement cascades in metals irradiated with energetic particles play an important role in microstructure evolution under irradiation. They have been studied in the fcc and bcc metals by atomic-scale computer simulation, and in this article, we present the results of a similar study in a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal. Static and dynamic properties of clusters of up to 30 SIAs were studied using a many-body Finnis-Sinclair type interatomic potential for Zr. The results show a qualitative similarity of some properties of clusters to those for cubic metals. In particular, all clusters larger than four SIAs exhibit fast thermally activated one-dimensional (1-D) glide, which is in a <1120> direction in the hcp lattice. Due to the structure of the hcp lattice, this mechanism leads to two-dimensional mass transport in basal planes. Some clusters exhibit behavior peculiar to the hcp structure, for they can migrate two-dimensionally (2-D) in the basal plane. The jump frequency, activation energy, and correlation factors of clusters have been estimated, and comparisons drawn between the behavior of SIA clusters in different structures. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Mobility of interstitial clusters in alpha-zirconium

Clusters of self-interstitial atoms (SIAs) formed in displacement cascades in metals irradiated with energetic particles play an important role in microstructure evolution under irradiation. They have been studied in the fcc and bcc metals by atomic-scale computer simulation, and in this article, we present the results of a similar study in a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) crystal. Static and dynamic properties of clusters of up to 30 SIAs were studied using a many-body Finnis-Sinclair type interatomic potential for Zr. The results show a qualitative similarity of some properties of clusters to those for cubic metals. In particular, all clusters larger than four SIAs exhibit fast thermally activated one-dimensional (1-D) glide, which is in a 〈11 0〉 direction in the hcp lattice. Due to the structure of the hcp lattice, this mechanism leads to two-dimensional mass transport in basal planes. Some clusters exhibit behavior peculiar to the hcp structure, for they can migrate two-dimensionally (2-D) in the basal plane. The jump frequency, activation energy, and correlation factors of clusters have been estimated, and comparisons drawn between the behavior of SIA clusters in different structures. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Grain-boundary diffusion by vacancy mechanism in α-Ti and α-Zr

Minimum-energy structures for the symmetric (11 1) and (11 2) twin grain boundaries (GBs), as well as for two nonsymmetric GBs that exhibit dislocations, are obtained for the hcp structure by computer modeling. Central force potentials constructed within the embedded-atom method are used to represent atomic interactions. Vacancy-formation energies and entropies for different sites are calculated, and the properties of various vacancy jumps are investigated. Unstable vacancy sites, located in the GB dislocation cores, are observed. The random-walk approach, combined with simulation results, is applied to study tracer diffusion by a vacancy mechanism in the twin GBs; higher diffusivity values than those for the lattice are obtained, in qualitative agreement with experiments. Correlation effects, taken into account by the matrix method, determine the main features of GB diffusion to be contributed by jumps in a narrow region. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Effect of pressure on zone-center phonons in hexagonal-close-packed metals

We report on studies of several hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) metals by Raman scattering techniques in the diamond anvil cell for pressures up to 60 GPa. The pressure response of the observed transverse-optical (TO) zone-center phonon mode includes positive pressure shifts as well as anomalies, such as mode softening in connection with phase transitions. It is shown that the phonon frequencies and their pressure dependences are related to macroscopic elastic parameters. More general, these results show that the measurement of Raman-active phonons provides a direct probe of bonding in metals, and agreement with theoretical models gives additional confidence in ab initio techniques. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Grain-boundary diffusion by vacancy mechanism in α-Ti and α-Zr

Minimum-energy structures for the symmetric and twin grain boundaries (GBs), as well as for two nonsymmetric GBs that exhibit dislocations, are obtained for the hcp structure by computer modeling. Central force potentials constructed within the embedded-atom method are used to represent atomic interactions. Vacancy-formation energies and entropies for different sites are calculated, and the properties of various vacancy jumps are investigated. Unstable vacancy sites, located in the GB dislocation cores, are observed. The random-walk approach, combined with simulation results, is applied to study tracer diffusion by a vacancy mechanism in the twin GBs; higher diffusivity values than those for the lattice are obtained, in qualitative agreement with experiments. Correlation effects, taken into account by the matrix method, determine the main features of GB diffusion to be contributed by jumps in a narrow region. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001 in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Effect of pressure on zone-center phonons in hexagonal-close-packed metals

We report on studies of several hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) metals by Raman scattering techniques in the diamond anvil cell for pressures up to 60 GPa. The pressure response of the observed transverse-optical (TO) zone-center phonon mode includes positive pressure shifts as well as anomalies, such as mode softening in connection with phase transitions. It is shown that the phonon frequencies and their pressure dependences are related to macroscopic elastic parameters. More general, these results show that the measurement of Raman-active phonons provides a direct probe of bonding in metals, and agreement with theoretical models gives additional confidence in ab initio techniques. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Computational modeling of through-thickness dynamic impact response in cross-rolled Ti-6Al-4V plates

The through-thickness ballistic impact response for extra-low-interstitial (ELI)-grade Ti-6Al-4V crossrolled and heat-treated plates is numerically simulated, taking into account specific material textures. Ballistic tests suggest that the incidence of material plugging is affected by specific thermal/mechanical processing paths above and below the β-transus temperature. Ti-6Al-4V polycrystalline aggregates are nominally textured via routine rolling-deformation and thermal-processing schedules in the α+β or β-phase fields. Thus, realistic processing textures, viz., the basal, transverse, as well as an idealized random texture, are simulated via a two-dimensional (2D) constitutive model for slip and twinning (treated here as pseudoslip) prescribed for the hcp single crystal. The polycrystal is constructed by incorporating the material theory into a finite-element model that explicitly represents a spatial distribution of single crystals. The polycrystalline mechanical response is examined with respect to macroscopic shear loading, such as that which may take place during dynamic punch-through processes. A ranking of the material textures is prescribed via numerically derived measures of external work performed. Results indicate that transverse textures generated by thermal/mechanical processing in the β-phase field are particularly susceptible to impact failures. Such microstructural and orientation-sensitive rankings are a keen marker of material performance and offer a refinement over the quasistatically generated Mil-A-4077 acceptance criterion for ballistic impact applications. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following AMS committeers: Materials Science and Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Determination of dislocation densities in HCP metals from X-ray diffraction line-broadening analysis

X-Ray diffraction (XRD) line-broadening analysis has been performed on highly textured Zr-2.5Nb specimens which had been deformed in tensile tests to produce well-controlled dislocation structures. An iterative deconvolution method has been applied to extract the broadening function for the material, using as standards, a Zr single crystal and a 0 pct deformed specimen. In both cases, for specific tensile tests, a significant contribution to the basal line broadening was observed, which was clearly not directly related to the dislocation structure generated by the deformation, i.e., so-called c-component dislocations having a component of their Burgers vectors perpendicular to the basal plane. Calculations showed that the extent of basal line broadening cannot be attributed to the secondary effect of strain from a-type dislocations, i.e., dislocations with Burgers vectors parallel with the basal plane. It is concluded that most of the line broadening observed was the result of intergranular strain distributions. These distributions are most prominent for grains oriented with their c-axes perpendicular to the tensile-deformation axis and resulted in basal-plane line broadening even when there were few, if any, c-component dislocations present. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science and Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Determination of dislocation densities in HCP metals from X-ray diffraction line-broadening analysis

X-Ray diffraction (XRD) line-broadening analysis has been performed on highly textured Zr-2.5Nb specimens which had been deformed in tensile tests to produce well-controlled dislocation structures. An iterative deconvolution method has been applied to extract the broadening function for the material, using as standards, a Zr single crystal and a 0 pct deformed specimen. In both cases, for specific tensile tests, a significant contribution to the basal line braodening was observed, which was clearly not directly related to the dislocation structure generated by the deformation, i.e., so-called c-component dislocations having a component of their Burgers vectors perpendicular to the basal plane. Calculations showed that the extent of basal line broadening cannot be attributed to the secondary effect of strain from a-type dislocations, i.e., dislocations with Burgers vectors parallel with the basal plane. It is concluded that most of the line broadening observed was the result of intergranular strain distributions. These distributions are most prominent for grains oriented with their c-axes perpendicular to the tensile-deformation axis and resulted in basal-plane line broadening even when there were few, if any, c-component dislocations present. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science and Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Deformation twinning in polycrystalline Zr: Insights from electron backscattered diffraction characterization

The response of polycrystalline α-zirconium to various deformation conditions was investigated through electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) characterization. The range of deformation conditions included quasi-static compression and tension at room and cryogenic temperatures, along with a Taylor cylinder impact experiment. The resultant data provided spatial resolution of individual with system activity as a function of the progression of deformation. Over 300 deformation twins were analyzed to identify the type of twin system and active variant, along with the Schmid factor in the parent orientation. These data supplied information on the distribution of Schmid factor and variant rank as a function of twin system and deformation condition. Results showed significant deviation from a maximum Schmid factor activation criterion and suggest deformation twinning is greatly affected by local internal stress heterogeneities and the sense of the applied stress. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Bulk and interface boundary diffusion in group IV hexagonal close-packed metals and alloys

Bulk and grain boundary (GB) self-diffusion and substitutional solute diffusion in group IV hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals (α-Ti, α-Zr, and α-Hf) are reviewed. The recent results obtained on high-purity materials are shown to approach closely the “intrinsic” diffusion characteristics. The enhancement effect of fast-diffusing impurities (such as Fe, Ni, or Co) is discussed for both self- and substitutional bulk solute diffusion in terms of the interstitial solubility of the impurity atoms. In GB self-diffusion, the impurity effect is found to be less dramatic. The results obtained on high-purity hcp materials can be interpreted in terms of intrinsically ‘normal’ vacancy-mediated GB diffusion, with the ratio of GB to volume diffusion activation enthalpies of Q _gb /Q ≈ 0.6. The GB self-diffusion in group IV hcp metals reveals distinct systematics. Bulk self-diffusion and fast interstitial solute diffusion (Fe and Ni) in the hcp phase α ₂-Ti₃Al are reviewed. Interphase boundary diffusion of Ti in the unidirectional lamellar α ₂/γ structure of the two-phase Ti₄₈Al₅₂ alloy is analyzed with respect to the phase boundary structure and GB self-diffusion in α ₂-Ti₃Al. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Bulk and interface boundary diffusion in group IV hexagonal close-packed metals and alloys

Bulk and grain boundary (GB) self-diffusion and substitutional solute diffusion in group IV hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals (α-Ti, α-Zr, and α-Hf) are reviewed. The recent results obtained on high-purity materials are shown to approach closely the “intrinsic” diffusion characteristics. The enhancement effect of fast-diffusing impurities (such as Fe, Ni, or Co) is discussed for both self-and substitutional bulk solute diffusion in terms of the interstitial solubility of the impurity atoms. In GB self-diffusion, the impurity effect is found to be less dramatic. The results obtained on high-purity hop materials can be interpreted in terms of intrinsically ‘normal’ vacancy-mediated GB diffusion, with the ratio of GB to volume diffusion activation enthalpies of Q _gb /Q ≈ 0.6. The GB self-diffusion in group IV hcp metals reveals distinct systematics. Bulk self-diffusion and fast interstitial solute diffusion (Fe and Ni) in the hcp phase α ₂-Ti₃Al are reviewed. Interphase boundary diffusion of Ti in the unidirectional lamellar α ₂/γ structure of the two-phase Ti₄₈Al₅₂ alloy is analyzed with respect to the phase boundary structure and GB self-diffusion in α ₂-Ti₃Al. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.