Phase-field simulation of the effect of diffusional interaction on precipitate morphology and composition

With a reasonable mesh-induced anisotropy, the phase-field simulation was performed to investigate the effect of the diffusional interaction between particles on morphologies and inside compositions of precipitates without taking elastic interaction into account. Simulated results show that the morphology transition will occur during growth and coarsening of the precipitate due to the interaction. The initially rounded particle may vary in the sequence of circular→square→circular→rhombic→circular, and the composition of precipitate will become inhomogeneous. With increasing precipitate volume fraction, the influence of the inter-particle diffusional interaction on the precipitate morphology and the composition will become stronger.