A model was presented for strain relief via interactions with point defects during O precipitation. By assuming that the precipitation of O was diffusion-limited, and that it evolved so that the total system free energy was minimized, the governing relationships which described strain relief were obtained. The effect of strain and point defects upon precipitate morphology was also considered. The model was used to calculate the precipitate/matrix interface energy by using published data on changes in precipitate morphology. The results suggested that the interface energy should be much higher than previously reported values.

S.Senkader, G.Hobler, C.Schmeiser: Applied Physics Letters, 1996, 69[15], 2202-4