Growth Rate Distributions during Recrystallization of Copper

New 3D X-ray diffraction microscopy (3DXRD) experiments on recrystallizing bulk grains that nucleated and grew in a 92% cold deformed pure copper during in situ annealing at both 150° C and 160° C are described. Nucleation times, growth velocities and apparent activation energies were determined for each grain. A wide range of apparent activation energies was observed but the average of 123 kJ/mol agreed well with earlier recrystallization experiments on a similar purity copper. It was clear that each recrystallized grain had its own individual characteristics; the grains do not all behave alike as various models would suppose.