Growth of metallic bicrystals with high-energy grain boundary orientation

Growth of oriented tricrystals of an Fe–Si alloy

“…Therefore, we can assume that the chosen geometry with identical angles 1201 between all grain boundaries should be stable. However, it was observed recently that the grain boundaries may rotate onto the more advantageous orientations during the growth [8]. In the present case, this process is also observed.…”

“…In the past, we obtained a large experience with growing nearly perfect and crystallographically oriented single crystals [4,5] and bicrystals of Fe-Si alloys [6][7][8]. The growth of oriented crystal structures is based on usage of a suitable seed.…”

“…This results in waviness of the grain boundary and often in its leaving the bicrystal during the growth process [6,7]. In addition, if the bicrystal with a high-energy grain boundary is grown, the grain boundary can rotate as a propeller from this orientation to the lowenergy orientation [8].…”

Grain boundary plane reorientation: model experiments on bi- and tricrystals

“…structure. A further reason for choosing this alloy was that our group has extensive experience in growing bi-and tricrystals of this material [22,23]. Two bicrystals and one tricrystal of this alloy were produced using 15 mm long seeds with a diameter of 13 mm.…”

“…The bicrystals and the tricrystal were grown using the floating-zone-technique in a radiation furnace FZ-T-12000-X-VI-VP (Crystal Systems Co., Japan) or using an induction heating (360 kHz) facility, all with a growth rate of 10 mm/h under argon or hydrogen up to a length of 30 mm (the procedures are described in more detail elsewhere [22,23]). The macrostructure of the as-grown bi-and tricrystals was studied using light microscopy after etching in 3 % Nital.…”