Influence of adsorption capacity of alloying elements on plastic properties of niobium

InVestigated was the effect of iron, cobalt, nickel, osmium upon the strength and the plastic properties the surface and the grain-boundary energies af niobium. Based on the macroscopic theory of brittle failure, it was found that the effect of small concentrations of alloying elements upon the properties of the metal matrix is determined by their adsorption capacity relative to internal and external interfaces. The resistance to brittle failure will be enhanced by alloying elements, which are active with respect to internal surfaces (i.e. ones which lower their energy) and at the same time inactive to free interfaces (i.e. ones which enhance their energy). In this respect, useful to niobium will be elements of the 8-th group