Phase field simulation of precipitation in a Mg-Al alloy using two techniques of approximation

In this paper, the precipitation of β-Mg17Al12 in aging process of Mg-9%Al (mass fraction) alloy was studied using a diffuse-interface phase field model. In the model, the precipitate phase and the matrix are distinguished by a structural order parameter, and the interface region is assumed to be a mixture of the precipitate phase and the matrix. The mixture composition was calculated using a weighted average method. Two techniques of approximation for the chemical free energy of precipitate phase and matrix were employed, where the variation characteristics of the free energy with the mole fraction of solute were included. In the simulation, the temperature and diffusion mobility coefficient were assumed to be constant. The effects of the solution approximations on the morphology evolution and growth kinetics of the precipitate were discussed. The effects of the interface mobility coefficient on the interface growth kinetics were examined, and the effects of the interface anisotropy between the precipitate phase and the matrix on the morphology of the precipitate were also discussed. It is demonstrated that the solution approximation taking into account the interaction between atoms for a binary system provides a good description for the chemical free energy. The simulation results showed that the precipitate phase growing from a supersaturated solid solution has a plate-like shape, which is in agreement with experimental observations. The growth kinetics of the precipitate phase is significantly influenced by the interface mobility coefficient.