Particle stimulated nucleation revisited in three dimensions: a laboratory-based multimodal X-ray tomography investigation

The efficiency of large second phase particles to stimulate nucleation of recrystallization in commercially cold rolled (25%) AA5182 aluminium sheet is investigated by laboratory multimodal X-ray tomography. The spatial distributions of 11434 particles and 742 nuclei are determined non-destructively in 3D in the same sample volume. Our work confirms that particle stimulated nucleation is the dominant nucleation mechanism, but it is also found that PSN nuclei stimulated from small particles and non-PSN nuclei can grow to large sizes. These results and the observed orientation distributions of the PSN and other nuclei are discussed in relation to existing theories. IMPACT STATEMENT The efficiency of the nucleation mechanism called particle stimulated nucleation is quantified in 3D by a non-destructive experimental approach.

Automated summary

The study confirms that particle stimulated nucleation is the dominant nucleation mechanism, but also finds that nuclei stimulated from small particles and non-PSN nuclei can grow to large sizes. The results are discussed in relation to existing theories.