Nucleation of cavities at second phase particles in grain boundaries

Abstract A kinetic approach is used, to explain the nucleation of cavities in grain boundaries at elevated temperature. Under the influence of a tensile stress, vacancies cluster together and form cavities. However a free energy barrier exists for the nucleation of a cluster which is stable. Heterogeneous nucleation, especially at the junctions of grain boundaries and second phase particles, is favored. Also an incubation time is required to form a vacancy cluster of critical size. Its duration depends upon the volume of the cluster and the diffusivity of vacancies. In this manner a stress and time condition for the nucleation of cavities in grain boundaries is obtained.