Simulating Diffusion Induced Grain Boundary Migration in Binary Fe–Zn

Abstract

A recently developed phase-field model for simulating diffusion-induced grain boundary migration (DIGM) is applied to binary Fe–Zn. The driving force for the boundary migration is assumed to come from the coherency strain energy mechanism suggested by Sulonen. The effect of the angle of the grain boundary with the surface on the velocity of the boundary migration is studied in detail. The simulation results compare favorably with experimental observations, such as the oscillatory motion of the grain boundary, velocity of the moving grain boundary during DIGM, and the maximum value of mole fraction of Zn at the surface after 20 h of heat treatment.