Concurrent grain boundary motion and grain rotation under an applied stress

Simultaneous shear coupling and grain rotation were observed experimentally during grain boundary migration in high-purity Al bicrystals subjected to an external mechanical stress at elevated temperatures. This behavior is interpreted in terms of the structure of the investigated planar 18.2 degrees < 1 0 0 > non-tilt grain boundary with a 20 degrees twist component. For characterization of the grain rotation after annealing under stress the bicrystal surface topography across the boundary was measured by atomic force microscopy. The temperature dependence of the boundary migration rate was measured and the migration activation energy determined. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.