| Title |
Computational Study of Microstructural Evolution of Zirconium?Niobium System: A Phase-Field Approach |
| Authors |
(Hwanhui Lee) ; (Kunok Chang) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.3365/KJMM.2026.64.6.543 |
| ISSN |
1738-8228(ISSN), 2288-8241(eISSN) |
| Keywords |
Zirconium niobium alloys; Beta-niobium rich precipitates; Phase-field method; Interfacial coherency |
| Abstract |
Understanding the microstructural evolution of β-Nb rich precipitates is essential for controlling
the corrosion resistance and mechanical strength of zirconium?niobium (Zr?Nb) alloys. In this study, the
microstructural evolution of β-Nb rich precipitates in Zr?Nb alloys was simulated using the phase-field
method to investigate the time-dependent evolution of β-Nb rich precipitates. Furthermore, the effect of
interfacial coherency between the α-Zr matrix and β-Nb rich precipitates was examined by classifying the
interface as semi-coherent, coherent, or incoherent. These interfacial coherency conditions were modeled using
the phase-field method by varying the interfacial energy and their effects were quantified by tracking the area
and number of β-Nb rich precipitates as a function of time. In addition to considering interfacial coherency,
simulations were performed with Nb concentrations of 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 mol% to examine compositional
effects. The results show that, under the semi-coherent interfacial condition, both the number and total area
of β-Nb rich precipitates were higher than the values for the coherent and incoherent interfacial conditions.
The increases in both the number and total area of β- Nb rich precipitates became more pronounced as the
Nb concentration increased. These results provide a robust foundation for future studies that extend the
framework to larger computational domains and more sophisticated interface descriptions. |