KINETICS OF NUCLEATION AND GROWTH-PROCESSES

The time evolution of the microstructural properties during phase transformations in solids, associated with the phenomena of nucleation and growth, has been modeled to provide an exact description of the kinetics of the process. The process analytical approach uses easily measured metallographic parameters, obtained from a two-dimensional surface examination to provide details on the time dependence of nucleation, nucleation rate, growth rate and interfacial migration. Results of a recrystallization study in deformed single crystals of pure iron have been used to demonstrate the predictions of the model.