Grain boundary plane manipulation in directionally solidified bicrystals and tricrystals

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2018.03.047
• Publication Date: 2018-04-25T00:48:55Z
• Authors: Logan G. Ware; Daniel H. Suzuki; Kelsi R. Wicker; Zachary C. Cordero
• Keywords: Grain boundary strengthening; Position (finance); Triple junction

Abstract We report a novel crystal growth technique for manipulating the grain structure of directionally solidified bicrystals, tricrystals, and other higher order oligocrystals. Controlling both the direction of local heat flux and the thermodynamic forces acting on the grain boundary, we can continuously vary grain boundary position and orientation, a level of control not possible using traditional processing strategies. This processing method can now specify many combinations of the five crystallographic grain boundary parameters in a single specimen, meaning large portions of both the grain boundary and triple junction parameter spaces can be sampled quickly and efficiently.