Simulation of Diffusion- and Convection-Controlled Ostwald Ripening
In this simulation ripening of a Al-Cu system has been calculatedwith fluid flow.The single particles can be interpreted as cross-sectionsthrough secondary dendrite arms. The driving force for ripening is thedegradation of interfacial energy coincident with the growth of large particles.While kinetics of the Ostwald ripening in the solid state are determinedonly by diffusion, during solidification additional mass transfer on accountof convection is possible. The influence of flow on growth kinetics wasexamined coupling the phase field with a fluid flow model. Evaluation givesthe evolution of the amount of interface and the permeability of the particlearrangement.