Abnormal grain growth -- The origin of recrystallization nuclei?

The origin of recrystallization nuclei is reviewed with particular emphasis on materials in which well-developed cells are present in the deformed state. Nucleation is discussed in terms of coarsening of the subgrain network that develops on annealing and an analogy is made with abnormal grain growth. The results of a theoretical analysis of abnormal growth are summarized. The Monte Carlo model for grain growth is adapted for variable grain boundary energy and mobility in order to investigate the behavior of individual grains with special properties. The simulation results show that both energy and mobility affect abnormal growth as expected from the theoretical analysis. The results are discussed in terms of the stability that subgrain networks may exhibit depending on their mean misorientation