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A differential cluster variation method for analysis of spinodal decomposition in alloys

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Abstract

A differential cluster variation method (DCVM) is proposed for analysis of spinoidal decomposition in alloys. In this method, lattice symmetry operations in the presence of an infinitesimal composition gradient are utilized to deduce the connection equations for the correlation functions and to reduce the number of independent variables in the cluster variation analysis. Application of the method is made to calculate the gradient energy coefficient in the Cahn-Hilliard free energy function and the fastest growing wavelength for spinodal decomposition in Al-Li alloys. It is shown that the gradient coefficient of congruently ordered Al-Li alloys is much larger than that of the disordered system. In such an alloy system, the calculated fastest growing wavelength is approximately 10 nm, which is an order of magnitude larger than the experimentally observed domain size. This may provide a theoretical explanation why spinodal decomposition after a congruent ordering is dominated by the antiphase boundaries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Z.-R. Liu & H. Gao

  2. Division of Mechanics and Computation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 94305, Stanford, California, USA

    H. Gao

Authors
  1. Z.-R. Liu
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  2. H. Gao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Gao.

Additional information

Received: 17 November 2003, Published online: 2 April 2004

PACS:

64.75. + g Solubility, segregation, and mixing; phase separation - 81.30.-t Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations - 05.70.Ln Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics

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Liu, ZR., Gao, H. A differential cluster variation method for analysis of spinodal decomposition in alloys. Eur. Phys. J. B 37, 369–374 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2004-00068-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2004-00068-2

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