Roughening transition of grain boundaries in metals and oxides

Extensive theoretical analysis and experimental observations show surface roughening transitions of crystals. The surface roughening is characterized by step free energy, which gradually decreases to 0 at the roughening transition temperature. For a crystal of finite size, the surface roughening transition is manifested by gradual increase of the curved edge and corner areas. In alloys, the interfaces between the solid and the liquid phases can be either singular, partially rough, or completely rough at different temperatures. Their thermally induced roughening transitions are similar to those of the solid-vapor interfaces. The interface roughening and the reverse transition to singular structures can also be induced by additives. The grain boundaries of any misorientation angles in oxides and metals also show roughening transitions. The singular grain boundaries have either flat, hill-and-valley, or kinked shapes, and with temperature increase or composition changes, they become defaceted to curved shapes. These defaceted grain boundaries are rough. It is thus possible to produce either singular or rough grain boundaries by heat-treatment or additives to vary their properties. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.