Dihedral angles in Cu–1 wt.% Pb: Grain boundary energy and grain boundary triple line effects

The dihedral angle shown by intergranular lead inclusions in Cu-1 wt.% Pb alloys is measured varying the purity of the metal and the temperature. Several measurement methods are used and compared, namely classical two-dimensional (2D) methods based on metallurgical cross-section analysis and a recently developed 3D stereoscopic method that yields the true three-dimensional angle value for individual inclusions straddling a flat grain boundary. We confirm and extend earlier measurements using the new method. We show that a discrepancy found between the literature data and the stereoscopic 3D dihedral angle measurements is not caused by impurity effects. Rather, the data indicate that the discrepancy has its origin in a difference in average dihedral angle values measured between inclusions straddling two grains and values found at inclusions located where three or more grains meet. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.