A three-year research project is proposed to conduct theoretical, computational and experimental studies of three-dimensional phase coarsening in ultra-high-volume-fraction (V V 0.9 ) solid-liquid mixtures. The primary goals of this project are (1) to measure the three-dimensional microstructural evolution of two-phase systems in situ using timeresolved x-ray microtomography, thus revealing simultaneously the globally averaged kinetics of coarsening and the local migration of internal interfaces; (2) to conduct largescale phase-field simulations of 3-D phase coarsening at ultra-high V V , obtaining predictions regarding the global and local characteristics of the transformation; (3) to develop a new theory for phase-coarsening at ultra-high V V , thus filling the gap between the Lifshitz/ Slyozov/Wagner theory, which is valid at low V V , and theories for grain growth (V V 1.0 ); and (4) to test and improve the theory by comparing its predictions quantitatively to the results of simulation and experiment. The project is a collaborative effort between scientists in the USA, who will pursue the theoretical and computational aspects, and Germany, where the sample preparation and characterization via tomography will be carried out.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
USA
