Skip to main content

The Cahn-Hilliard Model for the Kinetics of Phase Separation

  • Chapter
Mathematical Models for Phase Change Problems

Part of the book series: International Series of Numerical Mathematics ((ISNM,volume 88))

Abstract

In this paper we consider the Cahn-Hilliard mathematical continuum model of spinodal decomposition (or phase separation) of a binary alloy. The phenomenological model is derived in section one. The existence theory for the Cahn-Hilliard equation is reviewed in section two. Various aspects and generalizations are surveyed in section three. A finite element approximation is studied in section four and, in particular, two fully discrete schemes are shown to possess Lyapunov functionals. Finally in section five some numerical simulations are described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alikakos, N.D. and Simpson, H.C. - A variational approach for a class of singular perturbation problems and applications, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin, 107A, (1987), 27–42.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Biowey, J.F. - Thesis in preparation.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Caginaip, G. - An analysis of a phase field model of a free boundary, Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 92 (1986), 205–245.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cciginalp, G. - The dynamics of a conserved phase field system: Stefanlike, Hele-Shaw and Cahn-Hilliard models as asymptotic limits, preprint (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cahn,J.W. - On spinodal decomposition, Acta Metall 9, (1961), 795–801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Cahn, J.W. - On spinodal decomposition in cubic crystals, Acta Metall 10 (1962), 179–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cahn, J.W.andHilliard, J.E. - Free energy of a non-uniform system I. Interfacial free energy, J. Chem. Phys. 28 (1958), 258–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cahn, J.W.andHilliard, J.E. - Spinodal decomposition: a reprise, Acta Metallurgica 19 (1971), 151–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Carr, J., Gurtin M,andSlemrod,M. - Structured phase transitions on a finite interval,Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 86 (1984), 317–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cook, H.E. - Brownian motion in spinodal decomposition, Acta Metall 18 (1970), 297–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Copetti, M.I.M. - Thesis in preparation.

    Google Scholar 

  12. DeGroot, S.R.and Mazur, M. - Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, (1962) Dover edition (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Eilbeck, J.C., Furter, J.Eand Grinfeld, M. - On a stationary state characterisation of transition spinodal decomposition to nucleation behaviour in the Cahn-Hilliard model of phase separationpreprint (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Elder, K.R.,Rogers,T.M.andDesai.,R.C. - Early stages of spinodal decomposition for the Cahn-Hilliard-Cook model of phase separation,Phys.Rev.(B) 38 (1988),4725–4739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Elezovic, N. and Mikelic, A. - On the stochastic Cahn-Hilliard equation, preprint (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Elliott, CM. - The Stefan problem with a non-monotone constitutive relation, IMA Jour. Appl. Math. 35 (1985), 257–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Elliott, CM. and French, D.A. - Numerical studies of the Cahn-Hilliard for phase separation, I.M.A. Journal Appl. Math 38 (1987), 97–128.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Elliott, CM. andFrench, D.A. - A non-conforming finite element method for the two dimensional Cahn-Hilliard equation, SI AM J. Numer. Anal (to appear) (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Elliott, CM., French, D.A.andMilner, F. - A second order splitting method for the Cahn-Hilliard equation, Numer. Math. 54 (1989), 575–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Elliott, CM. and Mikelic, A. - Existence for the Cahn-Hilliard phase separation model with non-differentiate energy, Annali Mat. Pura. Ed. Apll. (to appear) (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Elliott, CM. and Zheng Songmu - On the Cahn-Hilliard equation, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 96 (1986), 339–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. French, D.A.andNicolaides, R.A. - Numerical results on the Cahn-Hilliard equation of phase transition, Applied. Num. Math, (to appear) (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Gunton, J.D. andDroz, M. - Introduction to the theory of metastable and unstable states, Lect. Notes. Phys. #183 Springer-Verlag (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Gunton, J.D., San-Miguel, M.andSahni, P.S. - The dynamics of first order phase transitions, In: ‘Phase transitions and critical phenomena edition’ed. by C. Domb and J. Lebowitz, Academic Press (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Gurtin, M. - On the two-phase Stefan problem with interfacial energy and entropy, Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 96 (1986), 199–241.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gurtin, M. - Some results and conjectures in the gradient theory of phase transitions, in ‘Metastability and incompletely posed problems’, ed. S. Ant-man, J.L. Erikson, D. Kinderlehrer and I. Müller. Springer-Verlag (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gurtin, M. - On a non-equilibrium thermodynamics of capillarity and phase, Carnegie Mellon Research Report # 88–6 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Gurtin, M. and Montano, H. - On the structure of equilibrium phase transitions within the gradient theory of fluids, Quart. Appl. Math. XLVI (1988), 301–317.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hillert, M. - A solid solution model for inhomogeneous systems, Acta Metall 9 (1961), 525–535.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hilliard, J.E. - Spinodal decomposition, in ‘Phase Transformations’, American Society for Metals (1970), 497–560.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Hohenberg, P.C.and Halperin, B.I. - Theory of dynamical critical phenomena, Rev. Mod. Phys. 49 (1977), 435–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hőllig, K. - Existence of infinitely many solutions for the forward-backward heat equation, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 278 (1983), 299–316.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Hőllig, K. and Nohel, J. A. - A diffusion equation with a non-monotone constitutive function, In ‘Systems of Nonlinear P.D.E.s’ ed. J.M. Ball (1983), 409–422, Reichel.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Koch, S.W . - Dynamics of first order phase transitions in equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems, Lect. Notes. Phys #.207, Springer-Verlag (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Langer, J.S. - Theory of spinodal decomposition in alloy’s, Ann. Phys. 65 (1975), 53–86.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Luckhaus, S. and Modica, L. - The Gibbs-Thompson relation within the gradient theory of phase transitions, (to appear) (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  37. Milchev, A., Heermann, D.W. and Binder, K. - Monte-Carlo simulation of the Cahn-Hilliard model of spinodal decomposition, Acta Metall 36 (1988), 377–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Modica, L. - The gradient theory of phase transitions and the minimal interface criterion, Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 98 (1987), 123–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Nicolaenko, B.,Scheurer, B.andTémam, R. - Some global dynamical properties of a class of pattern formation equations, Comms. P.D.E.s 14(2) (1989), 245–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Nicolaenko, B.,andScheurer, B. - Low dimensional behaviour of the pattern formation Cahn-Hilliard equation, in ‘Trends and practice of Nonlinear Analysis’ ed. Lakshimikantham, North Holland (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Novick-Cohen,A . - The nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard equation: transition from spinodal decomposition to nucleation behaviour, J. Stat. Phys. 38 (1985) 707–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Novick-Cohen, A. and Segel, L.A. Nonlinear aspects of the Cahn-Hilliard equation , Physica 10(D) (1984), 277–298.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Oono, V. and Puri, S. - Study of the phase separation dynamics by use of cell dynamical systems, I. Modelling Phys. Rev. (A) 38 (1988), 434–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. PegOy R. - Front migration in the nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard equation, Proc. Royal Soc. London (1989) (to appear).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Penrose, O. - Statistical mechanics and the kinetics of phase separation, in ‘Material instabilities in continuum mechanics and related mathematical problems’ J.M. Ball ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford (1988), 373–394

    Google Scholar 

  46. Petschek, R. and Metiu, H. - A computer simulation of the time dependent Ginzberg-Landau model for spinodal decomposition, J. Chem. Phys. 79 (1983), 3443–3456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Qiang DuandNicolaides, R.A. - Numerical Analysis of a continuum model of phase transition, Carnegie Mellon research report # 88-23 (to appear) (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Rogers, T.M., Elder, K.R. and Desai, R.C. - Numerical study of the late stages of spinodal decomposition, Phys. Rev. (B) 37 (1988), 9638–9649.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Shiwa, Y. - On the connection between the kinetic drumhead model and the Cahn-Hilliard equation in the presence of a gravitational field, Physica (A) 148 (1988), 414–426.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Skripov, V.P.andSkripov, A.V. - Spinodal decomposition (phase transition via unstable states), Sov. Phys. Usp. 22 (1979), 389–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Sternberg, P. - The effect of a singular perturbation on non-convex variational problems, Arch. Rat. Mech. Anal. 101 (1988), 209–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Témam, R. - Infinite dimensional dynamical systems in mechanics and physics>, Springer-Verlag (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  53. van der Waals, J.D. - Thhe thermodynamics theory of capillarity flow under the hypothesis of a continous variation of density(in Duch),Verhandel. Konink. Akad. Weten. Amsterdam (sec 1) Vol. 1 #8(1893).

    Google Scholar 

  54. Visintin, A. - Surface tension effects in phase transition, in ‘Material instabilities in continuum mechanics and related mathematical problems’J.M. Ball ed., (1988), 505–537

    Google Scholar 

  55. Zheng Songmu - Asymptotic behaviour of the solution to the Cahn-Hilliard equation, Applic. Anal. 23 (1986), 165–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Birkhäuser Verlags Basel

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Elliott, C.M. (1989). The Cahn-Hilliard Model for the Kinetics of Phase Separation. In: Rodrigues, J.F. (eds) Mathematical Models for Phase Change Problems. International Series of Numerical Mathematics, vol 88. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9148-6_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-9148-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9926-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-9148-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics