Simulations show why grains in metals and ceramics grow the way they do

A team of international scientists headed by Prof. Marco Salvalaglio from TUD–Dresden University of Technology has found out that internal stresses—not just interface energy—play a key role in shaping the microstructure of crystalline materials. These findings challenge classical theories and could improve how we design materials for engineering and technology. The results have recently been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.