What kind of materials typically undergo recrystallization?

Recrystallization is a process that typically occurs in metals, especially after they have been subjected to deformation through processes such as cold working. During recrystallization, the deformed structure of a metal undergoes transformation, allowing new, strain-free grains to form. This process enhances the material's ductility and can alleviate internal stresses created during prior shaping processes.

On the other hand, liquids do not undergo recrystallization as they do not possess a crystalline structure; instead, they might solidify into a crystalline form through cooling. Polymers, depending on their structure, may undergo different processes such as annealing, but they do not generally experience recrystallization in the same way metals do. Composites, which are made from two or more constituent materials, also do not undergo recrystallization like metals; their behavior is largely dictated by the properties of the individual components rather than a transformation process characteristic of metallic structures. This is why the primary focus is on metals when discussing recrystallization processes.