Implication of grain-boundary structure and chemistry on plasticity and failure

Failure processes are often linked to interfaces, their atomistic structure and chemistry. Therefore, a detailed understanding of failure processes requires knowledge of structural and chemical interface states as a prerequisite. Recent advances in transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography allow this information to be gathered with the highest spatial and chemical resolution. Insights on how strength, ductility, and toughness can be manipulated by grain-boundary complexions (i.e., grain-boundary state transitions) due to their impact on grain-boundary cohesion as well as dislocation-grain-boundary interaction processes have been recently gained. Making use of the multidimensional space spanned by grain boundaries concerning their atomic structure, chemical composition, grain-boundary inclinations and defects will enable new concepts for grain-boundary engineering of mechanical properties.