Dissolution of a strained spherical shell embedded in a matrix

The complete dissolution of a spherical thin shell covering the inner free-surface of a matrix of infinite extension containing a spherical pore has been theoretically investigated in the framework of the diffusion-controlled evolution formalism of a strained substitutional binary alloy at constant temperature, assuming the outer flux of the diffusing species in the matrix is constant at an infinite-distance from the shell. When the diffusion is assumed to only occur in the matrix phase and strain is present, the dissolution-time of the shell has been analytically determined and the effects of the misfit strain, elastic coefficient heterogeneities and initial outer radius of the shell on the dissolution-time have been discussed. The case where the central region is filled by the matrix phase has been also addressed.