Abstract By considering the misorientation of directions between certain unique crystallographic orientations at twin-grain boundary intersections in thin metal and alloy foils, a configurational theory has been developed which is applicable in explaining the origin of intrinsic interfacial torque. This theory is shown to be applicable with an average confidence of 80% in the analysis of twin-boundary-grain boundary intersection systems using electron transmission and selected-area electron diffraction microscopy techniques. Defining intrinsic interfacial torques to arise primarily because of a change in grain boundary free energy with a variation in misorientation, Θ, low-torque configurations are described as those where the relative interfacial free energy free ratios which arise at the interface between grains A and B, γtb/γAB, and between the twin of grain A, TA, and grain B, γtb/γT A B, are essentially equal. High-torque configurations are those where geometrical ratios related to the in...