Modelling the evolution of phase boundaries in solids at the meso- and nano-scales

Katsuyo Thornton*, John Ågren, P. W. Voorhees

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

132 Scopus citations

Abstract

Phase boundaries play an important role in setting the properties of multicomponent materials at both the meso- and nano-scales. In this review, we provide an overview of the modelling methods utilized in state-of-the-art research and engineering applications. We review the current physical understanding of how phase boundaries evolve, focusing on multicomponent systems. The recent advances in numerical modelling, fueled by powerful computers, have provided accurate and robust results that allow problems that are beyond the reach of analytic methods to be addressed. While the approaches used in engineering-oriented applications employ simplified microstructures, it is found that such models are quite useful in many problems. The ability to simulate realistic microstructures will further increase the power of materials modelling. We also highlight the differences between the sharp interface and diffuse interface approaches for modelling microstructural evolution. In addition, we identify future research topics in this area.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5675-5710
Number of pages36
JournalActa Materialia
Volume51
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 25 2003

Funding

Authors would like to acknowledge friends and colleagues within the phase transformation community for all the inspiration, for all the stimulating and often animated discussions. We also thank John Lowengrub, Xiaofan Li, Venu Vaithyanathan, and Long-Qing Chen for providing the figures used in this paper. KT and JA thank Dave Rowenhorst, Roberto Mendoza, Joakim Odquist and Anders Petersson for assistance. KT and PWV are grateful for support from NSF DMR Award #0102794.

Keywords

  • Applications
  • Diffusion
  • Driving force
  • Interfaces
  • Nucleation
  • Phase field models
  • Phase transformations
  • Sharp interface models
  • Thermodynamics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Metals and Alloys

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