A long-standing goal of materials science is to understand, predict and control the evolution of microstructures in crystalline materials. Most microstructure evolution is governed by interface motion; hence, establishing rigorous interface equations of motion is a universal goal of materials science. We present a model for the motion of arbitrarily curved interfaces that respects the underlying crystallography of the two phases/domains meeting at the interface and is consistent with microscopic mechanisms of interface motion, i.e., disconnection migration (line defects in the interface with step and dislocation character) [1]. The equation of motion for interface migration under the influence of a wide range of driving forces is discussed with the aid of numerical simulations [1,2]. A diffuse interface framework is also used to handle complex morphology and deliver proofs of concept for microstructure evolution [2]. Recent results achieved with this model concerning the morphology of grain boundaries and the competition among thermodynamic and kinetic effects during their motion will be illustrated.

[1] J. Han, D. J. Srolovitz, M. Salvalaglio, Disconnection-mediated migration of interfaces in microstructures: I. continuum model, Acta Materialia, 117178, (2021). [2] M. Salvalaglio, D. J. Srolovitz, J. Han, Disconnection-Mediated migration of interfaces in microstructures: II. diffuse interface simulations, Acta Materialia, 117463, (2021).