Nucleation of recrystallization in aluminium containing dispersions of alumina

Abstract
A study has been made of the recrystallization process in a series of samples of aluminium containing dispersions of oxide particles. The effect of varying the volume fraction of oxide and the initial grain size has been investigated. Both the macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the recrystallization processes have been evaluated. The results from measurements of hardness and observation by light microscopy and by transmission electron microscopy are in accord. Nucleation events both within the grains and at intergranular sites have been found. The effect of an increasing volume fraction of oxide particles is to slow down both the formation and growth of viable nuclei.