Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory of Structural Transformations in Metal and Ceramic Systems

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Theoretical studies will be done on the thermodynamics and kinetics of morphological and structural transformations in technologically advanced materials, multiphase metal alloys with intermetallics and in ceramic systems. An understanding of underlying mechanisms of atomic and structural transformations is crucial for processing and materials design. An evolution of the atomic structure as well as mesoscale pattern formation along the transformation path will be considered. The emphasis will be on the decomposition and ordering which results in a reduction of the point group symmetry. The problem of transient metastable phases and their relation to the mesoscale structure will be addressed. We will concentrate on attacking problems concerning precipitation of non-cubic ordered intermetallic phases from a cubic matrix, strain-induced coarsening, mesoscale pattern formation, problems involving virtual metastable phases, and structure formation in ceramic systems. %%% Theoretical studies utilizing analytical and computational techniques will be done to understand the structural transformations which occur in metals and ceramics. A knowledge of these transformations is important in the processing of these advanced materials in order to correlate materials properties to the underlying crystal structure.