Phase-field crystal modeling of early stage clustering and precipitation in metal alloys

A phase-field crystal model is used to investigate the mechanisms of formation and growth of early clusters in quenched/aged dilute binary alloys, a phenomenon typically outside the scope of molecular dynamics time scales. We show that formation of early subcritical clusters is triggered by the stress relaxation effect of quenched-in defects, such as dislocations, on the energy barrier and the critical size for nucleation. In particular, …