The microstructures of lines which had been re-solidified in an amorphous groove pattern were investigated by using back-scattered Kikuchi diffraction, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic techniques. It was noted that, if a temperature gradient was present during cooling, the Al lines did not have the common (111) fiber texture. The (111) crystal planes were instead parallel to the vertical side-walls of the grooves, and the crystal lattice exhibited a marked constant curvature over a length of 1cm. The use of transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of parallel dislocations in the bulk of the line, and small crystallites at the interfaces. It was suggested that the (111) side-wall texture was a result of the side-wall area being larger than the bottom area. The observed lattice curvature was explained in terms of the non-isotropic movement of dislocations during cooling.

M.J.C.Van den Homberg, P.F.A.Alkemade, S.Radelaar, J.L.Hurd, A.G.Dirks: Applied Physics Letters, 1997, 70[3], 318-20