Simulation of faceted film growth in two-dimensions: Microstructure, morphology and texture

A series of simulations of the growth of polycrystalline, Faceted films Fro m randomly oriented nuclei in two spatial dimensions was performed. The sim ulations track the motion of all corners where Facets from the same grain a nd different grains meet. Results are presented on the temporal evolution o f the mean grain size, grain size distribution, surface roughness, crystall ographic texture and growth zones as a function of a, a parameter describin g the relative facet velocities. The mean grain size and r.m.s. surface rou ghness are shown to be a parabolic function of the film thickness, in agree ment with experiment and theoretical results. The grain size distribution i s temporally self-similar when scaled by the mean grain size and has the fo rm of a gamma distribution. The crystallographic orientation distribution ( i.e. texture) is Gaussian, peaks at an sc-dependent orientation and the pea k sharpens during film growth. The peak position is well described by the l argest radius vector of the appropriate idiomorph in two and three dimensio ns. The grain size, roughness and texture evolution are intimately linked. This type of simulation may be used to examine the evolution of the microst ructure of any film which exhibits faceted growth with prescribed facet vel ocities. Published bl Elsevier Science Ltd. On behalf of Acta Metallurgica Inc.