The 3-dimensional geometry of the triple-junction formed between 2 solid Sn-rich particles and a Pb-rich liquid matrix was used to measure the interfacial energy and its anisotropy for individual grain boundaries. The anisotropy was determined by using a Cahn–Hoffman capillarity vector analysis of the energy balance at a triple junction. The absolute solid-solid grain boundary energy for each individual boundary was then determined by using the known value for the solid-liquid energy. A total of 136 boundaries was analyzed, with 46 of them forming grain boundaries. The remaining boundaries were found to be wetted boundaries with thin-liquid films formed between the 2 particles. A correlation between the low interfacial energy, and the probability of occurrence for that disorientation, was also observed. It was also shown that the anisotropy, as quantified by the magnitude of the torque term, made up a significant portion of the total interfacial energy; especially for low-energy boundaries. The degree of twist versus tilt of the boundaries was also analyzed. As expected, there were more tilt boundaries within the system than twist boundaries, and most of the low-energy boundaries had a mixed tilt-twist nature.

Measurements of the Grain Boundary Energy and Anisotropy in Tin. D.J.Rowenhorst, P.W.Voorhees: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2005, 36[8], 2127-35