Molecular dynamics study of the effect of grain size on the melting point of nanocrystalline aluminum

Using molecular dynamics simulation, the influence of the average grain size and excess energy due to the presence of grain boundaries on the melting point of nanocrystalline aluminum was studied. In the considered range of grain sizes from 2.5 to 10 nm, the difference between the melting point and the melting point of a pure crystal turned out to be inversely proportional to the average grain size and directly proportional to the excess energy. Melting proceeded heterogeneously and began primarily from grain boundaries. When studying recrystallization in nanocrystalline aluminum, it was found that it occurs more intensely as the temperature approaches the melting point, as well as at a smaller initial grain size.