An electronic model for the D022 to L12, transformation of the group IVA trialuminides

Abstract
An electronic model for the D022-to-L12, phase transformation in the group IVA trialuminides upon dilute alloying with ternary transition-metal elements is presented. The transition-metal substitutions which induce the phase alteration provide d character in the Al sp bonding region which we believe preferentially orders Al second-neighbour atoms. This preferential ordering stabilizes the L12 crystal structure.