No Arabic abstract
We study the nucleation dynamics of a model solid state transformation and the criterion for microstructure selection using a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our simulations show a range of microstructures depending on the depth of quench. We closely follow the dynamics of the solid and find that transient {em non-affine zones} (NAZ) are created at and evolve with the rapidly moving transformation front. The dynamics of these plastic regions determines the selection of microstructure. We formulate an {it elastoplastic model} which couples the elastic strain to the non-affine deformation, and recover all the qualitative features of the MD simulation. Using this model, we construct a dynamical phase diagram for microstructure selection, in addition to making definite testable predictions.
We describe the microstructure, shape and dynamics of growth of a droplet of martensite nucleating in a parent austenite during a solid-solid transformation, using a Landau theory written in terms of conventional affine, elastic deformations and {em non-affine} degrees of freedom. Non-affineness, $phi$, serves as a source of strain incompatibility and screens long-ranged elastic interactions. It is produced wherever the local stress exceeds a threshold and anneals diffusively thereafter. A description in terms of $phi$ is inevitable when the separation between defect pairs, possibly generated during the course of the transformation, is small. Using a variational calculation, we find three types of stable solutions ({hv I}, {hv II} and {hv III}) for the structure of the product droplet depending on the scaled mobilities of $phi$ parallel and perpendicular to the parent-product interface and the stress threshold. In {hv I}, $phi$ is vanishingly small, {hv II} involves large $phi$ localized in regions of high stress within the parent-product interface and {hv III} where $phi$ completely wets the parent-product interface. While width $l$ and size $W$ of the twins follows $lproptosqrt{W}$ in solution {hv I}, this relation does not hold for {hv II} or {hv III}. We obtain a dynamical phase diagram featuring these solutions and argue that they represent specific microstructures such as twinned or dislocated martensites.
Nucleation of a solid in solid is initiated by the appearance of distinct dynamical heterogeneities, consisting of `active particles whose trajectories show an abrupt transition from ballistic to diffusive, coincident with the discontinuous transition in microstructure from a {it twinned martensite} to {it ferrite}. The active particles exhibit intermittent jamming and flow. The nature of active particle trajectories decides the fate of the transforming solid -- on suppressing single particle diffusion, the transformation proceeds via rare string-like correlated excitations, giving rise to twinned martensitic nuclei. These string-like excitations flow along ridges in the potential energy topography set up by inactive particles. We characterize this transition using a thermodynamics in the space of trajectories in terms of a dynamical action for the active particles confined by the inactive particles. Our study brings together the physics of glass, jamming, plasticity and solid nucleation.
A simple numerical model which calculates the kinetics of crystallization involving randomly distributed nucleation and isotropic growth is presented. The model can be applied to different thermal histories and no restrictions are imposed on the time and the temperature dependencies of the nucleation and growth rates. We also develop an algorithm which evaluates the corresponding emerging grain size distribution. The algorithm is easy to implement and particularly flexible making it possible to simulate several experimental conditions. Its simplicity and minimal computer requirements allow high accuracy for two- and three-dimensional growth simulations. The algorithm is applied to explore the grain morphology development during isothermal treatments for several nucleation regimes. In particular, thermal nucleation, pre-existing nuclei and the combination of both nucleation mechanisms are analyzed. For the first two cases, the universal grain size distribution is obtained. The high accuracy of the model is stated from its comparison to analytical predictions. Finally, the validity of the Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami model is verified for all the cases studied.
Adding thermal conductivity enhancements to increase thermal power in solid-liquid phase-change thermal energy storage modules compromises volumetric energy density and often times reduces the mass and volume of active phase change material (PCM) by well over half. In this study, a new concept of building thermal energy storage modules using high-conductivity, solid-solid, shape memory alloys is demonstrated to eliminate this trade-off and enable devices that have both high heat transfer rate and high thermal capacity. Nickel titanium, Ni50.28Ti49.36, was solution heat treated and characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and Xenon Flash to determine transformation temperature (78deg-C), latent heat (183 kJm-3), and thermal conductivity in the Austenite and Martensite phases (12.92/12.64 Wm-1K-1). Four parallel-plate thermal energy storage demonstrators were designed, fabricated, and tested in a thermofluidic test setup. These included a baseline sensible heating module (aluminum), a conventional solid-liquid PCM module (aluminum/1-octadecanol), an all-solid-solid PCM module (Ni50.28Ti49.36), and a composite solid-solid/solid-liquid PCM module (Ni50.28Ti49.36/1-octadecanol). By using high-conductivity solid-solid PCMs, and eliminating the need for encapsulants and conductivity enhancements, we are able to demonstrate a 1.73-3.38 times improvement in volumetric thermal capacity and a 2.03-3.21 times improvement in power density as compared to the conventional approaches. These experimental results are bolstered by analytical models to explain the observed heat transfer physics and reveal a 5.86 times improvement in thermal time constant. This work demonstrates the ability to build high-capacity and high-power thermal energy storage modules using multifunctional shape memory alloys and opens the door for leap ahead improvement in thermal energy storage performance.
The kinetics and microstructure of solid-phase crystallization under continuous heating conditions and random distribution of nuclei are analyzed. An Arrhenius temperature dependence is assumed for both nucleation and growth rates. Under these circumstances, the system has a scaling law such that the behavior of the scaled system is independent of the heating rate. Hence, the kinetics and microstructure obtained at different heating rates differ only in time and length scaling factors.Concerning the kinetics, it is shown that the extended volume evolves with time according to alpha_ex=[exp(kappa Ct)]^m+1, where t is the dimensionless time. This scaled solution not only represents a significant simplification of the system description, it also provides new tools for its analysis. For instance, it has been possible to find an analytical dependence of the final average grain size on kinetic parameters. Concerning the microstructure, the existence of a length scaling factor has allowed the grain-size distribution to be numerically calculated as a function of the kinetic parameters.