Phase-field method simulation of the effect of hard particles with different shapes on two-phase grain growth

The effects of hard particles with different shapes, volume fractions and sizes on two- phase grain growth have been systematically investigated by phase-field method. The results showed that most of the spherical hard particles located at the intersection of tricrystal boundary, while flaky hard particles distributed along the grain boundary. Particles of different shapes have not obvious effect on the α phase grain growth, and the effect of hard particles with different shapes on the β phase grain growth depends on the number of particles. The flaky particles have stronger pinning effect on the β phase grain growth than the spherical particles when hard particles reach enough number. The pinning effect of the hard particles is enhanced when the volume fraction increased or the size of hard particles reduced. The greater the volume fraction or the smaller the size of hard particles is, the smaller the grains' size is.