Analysis of spinodal decomposition in Fe-32 and 40 at.% Cr alloys using phase field method based on linear and nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard equations

Spinodal decomposition was studied during aging of Fe-Cr alloys by means of the numerical solution of the linear and nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard differential partial equations using the explicit finite difference method. Results of the numerical simulation permitted to describe appropriately the mechanism, morphology and kinetics of phase decomposition during the isothermal aging of these alloys. The growth kinetics of phase decomposition was observed to occur very slowly during the early stages of aging and it increased considerably as the aging progressed. The nonlinear equation was observed to be more suitable for describing the early stages of spinodal decomposition than the linear one. (Author)