Energies of [001] small angle grain boundaries in aluminum

Energies of symmetric [001] tilt and twist small angle grain boundaries in aluminum have been examined as a function of misorientations. Boundary energies were evaluated relative to solid/liquid interfacial energies by a dihedral angle method on surface grooves. Energies of (100)(s) tilt boundaries with the Burgers vector of a[100] were rather smaller than those of (110)(s) tilt boundaries with a/2[110]. Energies of twist boundaries at theta < 4 were slightly larger than those of (110)(s) tilt boundaries. The energies were well explained as a function of misorientations by the Read-Shockley type equation. The equation also correctly described the difference in elastic energy factors between the (110)(s) tilt and twist boundaries. However, the term b in the equation may take a constant value independent of the Burgers vectors. (c) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.