Coarsening dynamics of self-accommodating coherent patterns

The coarsening kinetics of self-accommodating coherent domain structures is investigated using computer simulations based on a continuum phase-field model. The domain structures are produced from coherent hexagonal to orthorhombic phase transformations. It is found that the long-range elastic interactions arising from the lattice accommodation among different orientation domains of the orthorhombic phase dominate the domain morphologies and the kinetics of domain coarsening. It is shown that the long-range elastic interactions result in several new features for the domain coarsening as compared to normal grain growth. For example, the domain growth rate is reduced significantly and the growth exponent becomes a function of the relative contribution of the elastic energy reduction to the total driving force. In general, the elastic interaction is in favor of fine domains. Although triple junctions are dominant in the microstructure, a significant amount of quadrojunctions exist throughout the domain coarsening process. The average number of sides of the domain is also reduced.