SYMPOSIUM B - NUCLEATION AND GROWTH PROCESSES IN SOLIDS: FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS

One of the major goals of Materials Science is to design alloys with pre-specified, desirable, technological properties. To reach this goal it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of the fundamental mechanism underline materials behavior. Of central importance is the understanding the effects on materials properties as response of changes in composition and how combination of processing parameters, such as temperature, time, applied deformation affect the microstructure. In addition to the equilibrium phase to the information available in phase diagrams, non-equilibrium dynamic processes and meta-stable phases are known to be crucial in determining materials properties. Diffusion-controlled nucleation and growth processes affect long-term phases and microstructural stability. A comprehensive understanding of the basic, underlying phenomena is indispensable in controlling these factors.

This symposium aims at bringing together investigators working on different aspects of non-equilibrium processes in materials, and their effects on materials properties, discuss current issues in nucleation processes, improve our level of understanding of this phenomena thereby providing guidelines for future work.

The symposium will include, but not will be limited to, the following topics:

• Earlier stages in the formation of new phases: prediction, modeling and experimental methods for detection and measurements;

• Particle evolution: including size and shape evolution, spatial correlations of particles, nucleation and growth phenomena in different systems, crystallization reactions in solids and crystal growth;

• Phase evolution and stability: diffusional transformations, transition phases and meta-stability, non-equilibrium and dynamical conditions; shear (martensitic) transformations;

• Epitaxial phenomena;

• Spinodal decomposition and ordering.

In view of the wide spectrum of topics considered in this symposium, the realization of joint sessions with other symposia taking place during the meeting is planned.

Keyword: Nucleation.

Symposium Organizers