Modelling of grain refinement driven by negative grain boundary energy

Abstract

Grain refinement can be described by the classical kinetic equation using a negative value of the specific grain boundary Gibbs energy. A respective overview is offered reporting according observations and simulations, particularly linked to grain boundary segregation. Classical grain growth model is used in the treatment of evolution of the distribution function during refinement. The adapted model requires defining nucleation rate of new grains, which significantly influences the kinetics of the system of grains. Moreover, a jump in the distribution function is allowed at a certain value of the grain radius R_J, which separates old grains from newly nucleated ones. Evolution equation for both the critical radius R_c and separation radius R_J (jump position) as well as for the dimension-free distribution (shape) function are derived. Illustrative examples for the evolution of the system parameters under various nucleation rates of newly generated grains are presented.

Keywords:

• Grain refinement
• grain nucleation
• distribution concept
• jump on distribution function

Acknowledgements

Financial support by the Austrian Federal Government (in particular from Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie and Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft) represented by Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH and the Styrian and the Tyrolean Provincial Government, represented by Steirische Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft mbH and Standortagentur Tirol, within the framework of the COMET Funding Programme, Project A1.17, is gratefully acknowledged.