Influence of misfit stress relaxation by power-law creep and plasticity on kinetics of coarsening of precipitates

Influence of coarsening of precipitates on creep in metals and alloys has been studied experimentally and modelled in the past. However, a proper model to understand the role of plasticity and creep in the matrix to the kinetics of coarsening of misfitting precipitates is still missing. Such a model is developed based on a thermodynamic approach utilizing earlier solutions of mechanical interactions between the misfitting precipitates and the matrix. Numerical simulations demonstrate a significant retardation of the coarsening process controlled by power-law creep in the matrix within a wide range of its activity.