Grain growth in thin film under strong temperature gradients

Abstract

Grain growth in thin films has attracted lots of attention due to the numerous applications of polycrystalline films, on one hand, and modified properties due to changes in the microstructure caused by thermal effects, on the other hand. While the phenomenon of grain growth is well understood in general, effects of e.g. temperature gradients leave questions open still today. In the present study, we investigate the influence of strong temperature gradients on grain growth in thin films. To that aim, a modified three-dimensional Potts model algorithm is employed, where the annealing temperature depends on the position within the sample leading to spatial heterogeneities in the grain boundary network. As a consequence of different mobilities, a drag effect occurs on the boundary network evolution that has serious consequences for the microstructures evolving during grain growth.