Boundary energies of Σ11 [110] asymmetric tilt boundaries in Cu determined from the shape of boundary silica particles

The boundary energies of Sigma 11 [110] asymmetric tilt boundaries with a misorientation angle of theta = 50.5 degrees in Cu have been experimentally determined by a silica particle observation method for various inclination angles between phi = 0 and 90 degrees. This method has no drawbacks that are inevitable in boundary grooving and tri-junction methods. In the boundary energy vs inclination angle diagram, three deep cusps exist at phi = 10, 64.8 and 90 degrees whereas a shallow cusp appears at phi = 35.3 degrees. Such inclination angle dependence of the boundary energy has been utilized to analyze the faceting of the boundary. The observations on the faceting reported for Sigma 11 [110] tilt boundaries in face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) metals have been quantitatively accounted for by the present analysis. (C) 2000 Acta Metallurgica inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.