text: In metals and minerals, grains are ordered structures in different crystal orientations. Subgrains are defined as grains that are oriented at a < 10–15 degree angle at the grain boundary, making it a low-angle grain boundary (LAGB). Due to the relationship between the energy versus the number of dislocations at the grain boundary, there is a driving force for fewer high-angle grain boundaries (HAGB) to form and grow instead of a higher number of LAGB. The energetics of the transformation depend on the interfacial energy at the boundaries, the lattice geometry (atomic and planar spacing, structure [i.e. FCC/BCC/HCP] of the material, and the degrees of freedom of the grains involved (misorientation, inclination). The recrystallized material has less total grain boundary area, which means that failure via brittle fracture along the grain boundary is less probable.