Modeling recrystallization in a material containing fine and coarse particles

Recrystallization is simulated for a material containing both fine and coarse particles. A deterministic expression is developed for describing the heterogeneous distribution of the stored energy density that arises due to the presence of coarse particles. The effect of recovery reducing the stored energy density, and the different effects of coarse and fine particles on recrystallization are quantified. The criteria for nucleation and growth of the recrystallizing grains are given in energy balances. With 3D Monte-Carlo simulations, various stable recrystallized microstructures are generated by applying different combinations of parameters of the two size classes of particles. In a quantitative study, the effects of recovery and varying volume fractions of the two particle types on the recrystallization kinetics are investigated. The simulation calculations are compared with experimental results obtained with Al–Zr alloys. The model is verified concerning microstructural morphology and recrystallized volume fraction.