Inhomogeneity in a coherent precipitate distribution arising from the effects of elastic interaction energies

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Abstract
The energy states of coherent particles were calculated on the basis of microelasticity theory, considering the elastic interactions between the nearest-, the second- and the third-neighbour particles. The calculations revealed that the state where coherent particles are uniformly distributed throughout the matrix is energetically higher, i.e. less stable, than the state where coherent particles are locally distributed in groups each of which consists of several scores of particles. This fact predicts that the elastic interaction in itself tends to bring a non-uniform (inhomogeneous) distribution of coherent precipitates. Such a prediction is proved by scanning electron microscopy of γ precipitates in Ni-base alloys. The results obtained in the present studies urge us to change the already well known idea that coherent precipitates are uniformly (homogeneously) distributed owing to the effect of elastic interaction energy.