The Kinetics of Discontinuous Precipitation in Copper Indium Alloys

Abstract

<p> This thesis is concerned with the cooperative growth problem of the discontinuous precipitation reaction. Previous theories are examined, and the kinetic details of a model, which assumes the existence of a metastable monotectoid reaction and the adherence & local equilibrium, are derived. As with other attempt to describe the parameters of duplex growth situations we cannot find a unique relation between the rate of growth and the lamellar spacing. The various optimal or variational procedures used to remove this degree of freedom are considered. The Cu-In system is subject to quantitative experimental study, and the extent of interference of the concurrent general precipitation reaction is determined. Finally the kinetic data and auxiliary information are used to test the various theories. </p>