By considering three different experiments that might be used to measure the energy of triple junctions, we demonstrate some less than obvious properties of these defects. Grain boundary triple junctions in polycrystals are shown to have distinct energy components some of which relate to their structure, but also another of which is determined only by the grain size. Complications of each of the proposed experimental techniques are discussed and it is shown why there have not yet been any convincing measurements of triple junction energy.
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