Elastic effects on heterogeneous nucleation and microstructure formation

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Heiner Müller-Krumbhaar; Professor Dr. Robert Spatschek
• Subject Area: Materials Science
• Term: from 2007 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 51462812

Heterogeneous nucleation and the growth of microstructures are often accompanied by elastic deformations which can significantly influence the thermodynamical properties and kinetics of these processes. Lattice mismatches, density differences or concentration gradients are primary origins for these effects, which lead to the appearance of new lengthscales and noticeable consequences for the material properties. Despite the obvious relevance of these phenomena, generally accepted theories which take into account the elastic long-range interactions in a consistent way are not yet available, especially under consideration of the atomic structures and ordering. In this project, we will investigate the influence of these new effects on the dynamical processes of heterogeneous nucleation and microstructure development. The general aim is to obtain generalizations of classical scaling relations by analytical and numerical methods, and to compare them to experimental results.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1296: Heterogeneous Nucleation and Microstructure Formation: Steps towards a System- and Scale-bridging Understanding