On the Continuous Mechanics First and Second-Order Formulations for Nonequilibrium Nucleation: Derivation and Applications

Nucleation and growth are phenomena that can be applied to several fields of science and technology. On the other hand, nucleation depends on the cooling rate, dislocating the equilibrium, as surface energy depends on the created and deformed surface area. The crystalline/glassy transition limit dependence on the thermal gradient is also analyzed. In this paper, under continuum mechanics, first and second-order nonequilibrium nucleation formulation models are derived, and a phase-change moving interface is considered in the thermal field. Important nucleation variables are plotted against the cooling rate for several nucleation angles. It is coupled with a theoretical model for the molar-specific heat capacity of solids to analyse its dependence on nucleation kinetics.