Acoustic wave propagation in Laves-phase compounds

We have studied the acoustic wave propagation in the hexagonal structured materials TiCr2, ZrCr2 and HfCr2. In this paper, we have calculated the orientation dependence of three types of acoustic wave velocity and Debye average velocity using second order elastic constants. The six second order elastic constants are calculated for these materials at 300 K using Lenard-Jones Potential. An anomalous behaviour in orientation dependent acoustic wave velocity is obtained which is due to the combined effect of elastic constants and density. These velocity data are important for their structural information and to differentiate them from third group nitrides. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.