Abnormal grain growth induced by sub-boundary-enhanced solid-state wetting: Analysis by phase-field model simulations

Abnormal grain growth (AGG) was approached by a new concept of sub-boundary-enhanced solid-state wetting using a phase-field model (PFM) simulation. If grains have sub-boundaries of very low-energy, they increase the probability of growing by solid-state wetting, compared with other grains of moderate anisotropy in grain boundary energy. As a result, the grains with sub-boundaries have an exclusive growth advantage and can grow abnormally. These aspects are shown in two- and three-dimensional PFM simulations.