Phase inversion in two-phase solid systems driven by an elastic modulus mismatch

Abstract

We have used phase field simulations to study elastic stress-driven phase inversion in which an initial microstructure with a minority phase embedded in a majority phase evolves to one in which the latter becomes embedded in the former. Such phase inversion is possible if the majority phase is elastically stiffer than the minority phase. For a given set of parameters (volume fraction and elastic moduli of the phases), phase inversion occurs at a characteristic microstructural length-scale (ℓ ^c ). Our results show that ℓ ^c is lower for systems with larger mismatch in elastic moduli, and (to a smaller extent) in those with greater elastic anisotropy.

Acknowledgements

We thank Saswata Bhattacharyya for useful discussions, and the Volkswagen Foundation for financial assistance.