Abnormal grain growth in the Potts model incorporating grain boundary complexion transitions that increase the mobility of individual boundaries

Abstract The Potts model of grain growth was adapted for the purpose of simulating abnormal grain growth (AGG) resulting from grain boundary complexion transitions. The transition in grain boundary structure between specific complexion types results in changes in properties. Where the transitions decrease energy and increase the mobility of boundaries, AGG occurs provided that such transitions predominantly occur via propagation to adjacent boundaries. Thus the model increases the mobility of selected boundaries on the basis of their adjacency to zero, one, or a multiplicity of boundaries that have already transitioned. The effect of transitions to a high mobility complexion was investigated separately from the effect of changes in energy. The influence of the frequency of complexion transitions with different adjacencies on the occurrence of AGG was explored. The simulations show how propagating complexion transitions can explain the AGG observed in certain ceramic systems.