A model of pore dissolution at grain boundaries during annealing of an ultra-fine-grained aluminum alloy

A theoretical model which describes the mechanism of pore dissolution at grain boundaries in ultrafine-grained materials during the ageing annealing is suggested. Within the framework of the model, pore dissolution occurs due to the emission of vacancies and the climb of grain-boundary dislocations along the grain boundary towards the pore. It is shown that in this case there is a significant decrease in the total energy of the system. The results of the model are in good agreement with the available experimental observations of pore dissolution during annealing of ultrafine-grained Al–Zr alloy.