Ab initio modelling of the ferrite/cementite interface

The article presents results of first-principles modelling of the ferrite/cementite interface with the Isaichev orientation relationship. Periodicity and close arrangement of the atoms in the two arrays (ferrite and cementite) for this orientation relationship indicates that the surface has low formation energy. Structural model of the interface was developed. The best conjugation of the two lattices is provided when the (101)c plane consisting of iron atoms in S-type positions is located at the interface. The supercell selected for ab initio modelling contained 64 atoms: 56 iron (28 in both ferrite and cementite parts) and 8 carbon atoms (in the cementite part). Simulation was performed in the framework of density functional theory method of the full-potential linearised augmented-plane wave with generalised gradient approximation in WIEN2k package. The optimum parameters of the system simulation were selected and volume optimization of structure was carried out. Calculated formation energy of ferrite/cementite interface is 0.594 J/m2, which is good agreement with both the theoretical and experimental data. There is a good correlation between the values of the magnetic moment and the interplanar distance for the iron atoms at the interface. Magnetic moment of iron atoms decreases with decreasing distance.