Dynamics of atomic ordering in intermetallics

Intermetallic compounds showing high stability of superstructure are promising technological materials. As their attractive properties follow mostly from a high degree of long-range atomic order (LRO), knowledge of ordering kinetics in these systems is crucial. Recently, kinetics of “order–order” processes in L12 systems such as Ni3Al have been extensively investigated experimentally, as well as by means of Monte Carlo (MC) and molecular dynamics simulations. Computer simulations yield an information about the atomistic mechanism of ordering in terms of a correlation of atomic jumps between particular sublattice sites. The present contribution reports new Monte Carlo simulation results of “order–order” processes in B2 and L10 superstructures. The results reveal an effect of the sublattice geometry; specifically, the availability of easy-diffusion channels, on the structure of “order–order” relaxations.