Grain boundary energy and grain growth in Al films: Comparison of experiments and simulations

Relative free energies of 〈1 1 1〉 tilt boundaries in 1.7-μm-thick Al films were compared with boundary enthalpies obtained via molecular dynamics simulations. Grain growth studies in 25 and 100-nm-thick Al films were compared with simulations. The sources of the differences between experimental and simulational results are discussed.