Modeling phase decomposition and patterning in binary alloy systems subjected to neutron irradiation

Phase field modelling voids nucleation and growth in binary systems

“…A growth in (δψ) 2 indicates the formation of an ordered configuration where the domains of two phases emerge during the system evolution. The obtained results correspond well to previous studies of a vacancy rearrangement in binary systems with soft and hard phases [48,49]. It was shown that at phase decomposition, the above rearrangement of vacancies is a result of Kirkendall effect occurring in the systems with different self-diffusivities of atoms of two sorts.…”

“…The development of Darken's approach in binary systems under irradiation, where vacancies are capable of organizing into voids was discussed in [47]. Properties of patterning in a two-component system caused by vacancy rearrangement at irradiation and the corresponding discussions of the Kirkendall effect were provided in [48,49]. In most of the works related to the study of the void evolution, point defects were described by their populations and all classifications of defect patterns were done by considering the corresponding values of point defect concentrations, whereas no special quantity identifying a different kind of objects having dimensions larger than zero was introduced.…”

Phase stability and precipitation modeling in neutron irradiated Zr–2% Nb alloy

“…takes into account interactions of vacancies through elastic deformation of the lattice [18,25,32,45,46]. Here r v0 ≈ (2-3)a denotes the mean square distance between produced defect and atom of the matrix.…”

“…In theoretical studies of microstructure transformations in irradiated alloys the phase field approach is a powerful method based on usage of thermodynamic concepts [13][14][15][16]. This method is widely exploited to study radiation damages and microstructure evolution in different materials [17][18][19][20][21][22]. To study microstructure transformations the CALPHAD method is exploited by using realistic thermodynamic potentials [23,24].…”

“…To study microstructure transformations the CALPHAD method is exploited by using realistic thermodynamic potentials [23,24]. It allows one to consider local rearrangement of defects [18,25], their clusters [26], dislocation loops [27], voids [17,21,28] and formation/dissolution of secondary phases [29] when one combines it with rate theory for point defects evolution. Phase field modeling concerning Zr-Nb alloys reported in literature is addressed to thermal treatment [30,31].…”