Possible mechanism of void nucleation in FCC metals

Abstract

Kinetics of a void in fcc metals is simulated by the molecular dynamics technique (MDT). A void is shown to overcome the critical size through a dendrite formed of di-vacancies. The scheme for void nucleation and growth is as follows: mobile vacancy-mobile di-vacancy-dendrite-void of a critical size-void growing by adding single vacancies. This mechanism is associated with entropy contribution (the value of which is comparable with that of inner energy) to free energy at the temperature of vacancy diffusion.