Five-parameter grain boundary distribution of commercially grain boundary engineered nickel and copper

The five-parameter grain boundary distributions of grain boundary engineered nickel and copper specimens have been analyzed in detail. The relative areas of {111} planes in the entire population did not increase as a result of grain boundary engineering (GBE) and, in the R3-excluded population, decreased after GBE. This decrease occurred because the majority of the newly generated R3 grain boundaries were not coherent twins with {111} grain boundary plane orientations. GBE increased the proportion of R3 boundary length that was vicinal-to-{111} and the proportion of asymmetrical h110i tilt boundaries. There was a clear propensity for selection of particular planes or plane combinations which were associated with low energy. These plane types were analyzed in some detail, and it was shown that many of these boundaries were asymmetrical tilts comprising (or vicinal to) at least one low-index plane. 2008 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.