Molybdenum effect on Fe–Cr–Ni-alloy elastic constants

This study involved the ultrasonic measurement of the polycrystalline elastic constants of six face-centered-cubic Fe–Cr–Ni alloys, nominally Fe–19Cr–12Ni (at. %). In these alloys, Mo content ranged up to 2.4 at. %. Molybdenum lowers the Young and shear moduli, and it raises the Poisson ratio. Against expectation (because it increases volume), Mo raises the bulk modulus. Qualitatively, the results show that Ni raises the bulk modulus and Poisson ratio; but Ni lowers the Young and shear moduli. (Nickel decreases the alloy's atomic volume.) The discussion includes existing models based on 3d-electron theory.