RECRYSTALLIZATION AND GRAIN GROWTH OBSERVATIONS IN THIN FILMS OF LEAD AND PALLADIUM IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Recrystallization and grain growth, resulting from electron beam heating of local small areas inside an electron microscope, in thin polycrystalline films of lead and palladium have been studied. Large single crystal grains are found to result in this mode of annealing. The present observations seem to be unusual since it is known that, unlike bulk specimens, little or no recrystallization or grain growth occurs when thin metal films are annealed. It is suggested that the recrystallization and grain growth in this case are assisted by thermal stresses which are set up as a result of local heating, and are thus different from those resulting from direct annealing treatment. © 1969.