Ductility and fracture of copper bicrystals with boundary SiO 2 particles

Abstract

High temperature deformation andfracture ofCu-SiO₂ bicrystals with [001] twist boundaries of various misorientation angles were investigated under the condition of non-activation of grain boundary sliding. As the misorientation angle increases, the bicrystals became more susceptible to intergranular brittle fracture. Clear intermediate temperature embrittlement was observed in bicrystals with a random high angle boundary. The boundary segregation of O atoms was found to enhance intergranular fracture. Although the boundary SiO₂ particles provide stress concentration sites which cause early formation of boundary cavities, the boundary dependent deformation and fracture behaviour is essentially determined by inherent boundary strength, which is afunction of the misorientation angle.

MST/1969