Electron microscopic observation and its interpretation of Ostwald ripening in precipitation dynamics in alloys

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Abstract
Ostwald ripening of precipitates in Cu-Co and Al-Li was observed under a transmission electron microscope, and the changes of the size distribution on aging were examined. The average radius of spherical precipitates increases with the aging time in proportion to its ⅓ power. The distribution function of the radius of precipitates, as scaled by the average value, changes with the aging time, indicating that the process of Ostwald ripening has not yet reached the steady state, as assumed in LSW theory. The standard deviation and skewness obtained from the distribution function approach to their stationary values with the aging time, and the final distribution obtained experimentally, is represented satisfactorily by LSW theory with a correction for the finite volume fraction of the precipitated phases. The result of our observation is compared also with computer simulation for the intermediate state before the stationary state is attained.

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