Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
A 2D analytic result is presented for the penetration distance P of grain boundary grooves as a function of time t during heating and straining of polycrystalline multilayer thin films with immiscible phases. These grooves can ultimately pinch off individual layers. The result shows that P ∼ t0.25 initially and P ∼ t at longer time. This new analysis contrasts single- versus multilayer thin film response.