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U.S. Department of Energy
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Connection between grain boundary structure and energy

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5693727

High-resolution electron-microscopy (HREM) experiments are combined with computer simulations of <110> tilt grain boundaries (GBs) in Au to investigate the correlations between atomic-scale GB structure and energy. The energies calculated for a variety of symmetric and asymmetric GBs suggest that asymmetric GB-plane orientations are often preferred over symmetric ones. Experimentally the observed faceting behavior agrees with the computed energies. Computer simulations suggest general interrelations between GB energy and (i) volume expansion and (ii) the number of broken bonds per unit area of GB. These atomic-scale microstructural GB parameters, as evaluated from HREM observations, can be compared to simulation results. The fact that asymmetric GBs often are low in energy may be of considerable important for grain growth in polycrystalline materials. 21 refs., 8 figs.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5693727
Report Number(s):
ANL/CP-73327-Rev.; CONF-9106101--1-Rev.; ON: DE91015558
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English