The influence of alloying in stabilizing a faceted grain boundary structure. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Priedeman, Jonathan L.; Thompson, Gregory B.
• Is Part Of: Acta materialia. Volume 201(2020)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 340
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Grain boundary structure -- Grain boundary segregation -- HRTEM -- Faceting -- Platinum-alloys; Materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Materials -- Mechanical properties -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; 620.112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2020.09.085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6454

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: Grain boundary structures have long been known to depend on factors such as solutes and temperature. In this work, in-situ atomic scale imaging was used to observe the faceting of a Σ21a [1 1 1]-tilt-axis boundary at 600 ∘ C and 800 ∘ C in a Pt-5Au (at. %) nanocrystalline alloy. With an increase in temperature, we observe an evolution from many, shorter facets to fewer, longer facets. The preferred facets are shown to be symmetrically equivalent tilt boundaries, via the fundamental zone formalism. Simulation of Pt bicrystals reveals that these preferred facets do not lie in an energy minimum (of the tilt boundaries that the grain boundary misorientation could access); however, calculation of the segregation enthalpy of Au to these grain boundary lattice sites indicates a greater preference of Au, reducing the grain boundary energy, and explaining the facet stabilization observed.