Two-band modeling of α -prime phase formation in Fe-Cr

We have developed a two-band model of Fe-Cr, fitted to properties of the ferromagnetic alloy. Fitting many-body functionals to the calculated mixing enthalpy of the alloy and the mixed interstitial binding energy in iron, our potential reproduces changes in sign of the formation energy as a function of Cr concentration. When applied in kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, the potential correctly predicts decomposition of initially random Fe-Cr alloys into the α -prime phase as function of Cr concentration.