Surface-induced phase transformations: multiple scale and mechanics effects and morphological transitions

Strong, surprising, and multifaceted effects of the width of the external surface layer Δ(ξ) and internal stresses on surface-induced pretransformation and phase transformations (PTs) are revealed. Using our further developed phase-field approach, we found that above some critical Δ(ξ)(*), a morphological transition from fully transformed layer to lack of surface pretransformation occurs for any transformation strain ε(t). It corresponds to a sharp transition to the universal (independent of ε(t)), strongly increasing the master relationship of the critical thermodynamic driving force for PT X(c) on Δ(ξ). For large ε(t), with increasing Δ(ξ), X(c) unexpectedly decreases, oscillates, and then becomes independent of ε(t). Oscillations are caused by morphological transitions of fully transformed surface nanostructure. A similar approach can be developed for internal surfaces (grain boundaries) and for various types of PTs and chemical reactions.