Phase field modeling of isothermal β → ω phase transformation in the Zr–Nb alloys

A phase field model has been developed to simulate the microstructural evolution during the isothermal β → ω phase transformation in the Zr–Nb alloys. This model captures the essential physics of a mixed diffusive–displacive mechanism that leads to β → ω transformation, and appropriately described the microstructural evolution and transformation kinetics. The Nb rich layers around the ω particles can develop to a net shape structure, which results in the change of ω morphology and the existence of stabilized ω + β microstructure with small ω particles homogeneous distribute in the β matrix.