After successful completion of the course, students are able to to understand the nucleation and growth processes during phase transformations. They capture the relations between atomistic and continuums nucleation theories. They are able to relate the nucleation and growth processes in supersaturated solutions to thermodynamic quantities, such as, Gibbs energy, driving forces, etc.

- Discussion of fundamental thermodynamic quantities (Gibbs energy, chemical driving force, chemical potentials ...)
- Derivation of the fundamental equation for the nucleation rate based on the concepts of Classical Nucleation Theory.
- Analysis of interphase boundary growth rates in the limit of spherical/planar geometry.
- Kolmogorov/Johnson/Mehl/Avrami theory of phase transformation.
- Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner theory of precipitate coarsening.
- Application of the theories to solid-state phase transformation with special emphasis on precipitation processes.

Discussion of fundamental theories; Case studies

During the lecture, answers to selected questions will be elaborated on maximum one page each. These answers will be discussed during the exam.

The script is available at the office of the Institute (BE04)

Some fundamental understanding of the microstructure of metallic materials is advantageous. Diffusion mechanisms and defects in polycrystalline materials. Phase equilibria, chemical potentials and driving forces.