Grain growth suppression in nanocrystalline materials

Grain growth affected by particle drag is numerically simulated, the drag in nanomaterials being ascribed to the presence of small voids. Abnormal grain growth develops in a range of drag magnitudes which widens significantly with a reduction in the initial grain size. The magnitude of the drag that completely prevents grain growth is inversely proportional to the initial grain size. The data obtained lead to the conclusion that grain growth suppression in nanomaterials can be achieved by decreasing their density. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.