Phase-field simulation of void migration in a temperature gradient

A phase-field model simulating vacancy diffusion in a solid with a strong vacancy mobility inhomogeneity is presented. The model is used to study void migration via bulk and surface diffusion in a temperature gradient. The simulations demonstrate that voids migrate up the temperature gradient, and the migration velocity varies inversely with the void size, in agreement with theory. It is also shown that the current model has the capability to investigate the effects of surface diffusion, temperature gradient and vacancy concentration on the void migration velocity. An interesting potential application of the model is to study the kinetics of void migration and the formation of a central hole in nuclear fuels. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.