Development of spatial correlations during coarsening

We have studied, using computer simulations, the role of elastic interactions in the development of spatial correlations among coherent misfitting second-phase particles during coarsening. Our simulations show that at small particle sizes, the coarsening behaviour is under capillary control; in this regime, the spatial correlations among the particles are characterized by the presence of large particles in the neighbourhood of small particles and vice versa. As the particle size increases, however, the elastic interactions among the particles become progressively more dominant. These elastic interactions destroy the spatial correlations already established during prior coarsening under capillary control. They help establish new correlations characterized by clustering of favourably oriented and similar sized particles.