A phase field study of microstructural evolution in elastically inhomogeneous systems

Microstructural evolution in two phase coherent solids is strongly influenced by elastic stresses that arise from a mismatch in the lattice parameter of the phases. Many of these elastic stress effects, such as particle shape changes and particle alignment, can be studied satisfactorily using the 'homogeneous modulus' assumption. However, a mismatch in the elastic moduli of the two phases is an essential feature of certain phenomena; we consider two examples: phase inversion (wherein hard matrix and soft precipitates evolve into a microstructure of soft matrix and hard precipitates) and Asaro-Tiller-Grinfeld instability in thin films. In this communication, we present recent results from our phase field study of these two phenomena.