Grain Boundary Phase Transitions and their Influence on Properties of Polycrystals

Abstract

Grain boundary (GB) phase transitions can change drastically the properties of polycrystals. The GB wetting phase transition can occur in the two-phase area of the bulk phase diagram where the liquid (L) and solid (S) phases are in equlibrium. Above the temperature of the GB wetting phase transition a GB cannot exist in equlibrium contact with the liquid phase. The experimental data on GB wetting phase transitions in numerous systems are analysed. The GB wetting tie-line can continue in the one-phase area of the bulk phase diagram as a GB solidus line. This line represents the GB premelting or prewetting phase transitions. The GB properties change drastically when GB solidus line is crossed by a change in the temperature or concentration. The experimental data on GB segregation, energy, mobility and diffusivity obtained in various systems both in polycrystals and bicrystals are analysed. In case if two solid phases are in equilibrium, the GB “solid state wetting” can occur. In this case the layer of the solid phase 2 has to substitute GBs in the solid phase 1. Such GB phase transition occurs if the energy of two interphase boundaries is lower than the GB energy in the phase 1.