The Diffuse Interface Approach in Materials Science: Thermodynamic Concepts and Applications of Phase-Field Models

The book is devoted to the application of phase-field (diffuse interface) models in materials science. Phase-field modeling emerged only recently as a theoretical approach to tackle questions concerning the evolution of materials microstructure, the relation between microstructure and materials properties and the transformation and evolution of different phases. This volume brings together the essential thermodynamic ideas as well as the essential mathematical tools to derive phase-field mo...