An investigation of grain boundaries in submicrometer-grained Al-Mg solid solution alloys using high-resolution electron microscopy

High-resolution electron microscopy was used to examine the structural features of grain boundaries in Al-1.5% Mg and Al-3% Mg solid solution alloys produced with submicrometer grain sizes using an intense plastic straining technique. The grain boundaries were mostly curved or wavy along their length, and some portions were corrugated with regular or irregular arrangements of facets and steps. During exposure to high-energy electrons, grain boundary migration occurred to reduce the number of facets and thus to reduce the total boundary energy. The observed features demonstrate conclusively that the grain boundaries in these submicrometer-grained materials are in a high-energy nonequilibrium configuration.