Coarsening of Incoherent α-Fe Particles in a Cu–Fe Alloy

Abstract

The coarsening of α-Fe particles in a Cu–Fe alloy was examined. Using the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) theory of Ostwald ripening, the interfacial energy between α-Fe and Cu was estimated to be 3.3 J/m². A coarsening process was also studied when α- and γ-Fe particles coexisted. This coarsening mode was different from that of the usual Ostwald ripening. When the coarsening processes of α- and γ-Fe particles were followed separately, however, the growth and shrinkage of the Fe particle can be understood from the LSW theory.