Influence of temperature on the orientation of insular crystalline inclusions of tin in thin films

The influence of melting and solidification of crystalline and condensed ti n films on their texturing is investigated (in situ) by means of a transmis sion electron microscope. Microsamples are melted, reheated to 400 degrees C, and cooled to room temperature. As a result of this treatment, a predomi nant crystallographic orientation of the isolated nanocrystals is clearly v isible for the solidifying insular segments within the surface. The condens ed film has the orientations (111) and (113), and the crystalline film has the orientation (001). The orientational effect is explained by the appeara nce of dissipative structure in the metal on premelting and its persistence in the liquid state, This structure, determined by the polarization of col lective displacements of nanodisperse metal volumes in thermal excitation, is responsible for the appearance of predominant crystallographic direction s of the micrograins in the solidifying films.