Comparison of spectra of grain boundaries spontaneously formed in Cu–Ag and Cu–In systems

Spectra of grain boundaries existing in the polycrystalline copper-silver system (positive enthalpy of mixing) have been studied in comparison with those of the copper-indium system (negative enthalpy of mixing). Spectra of grain boundaries are formed spontaneously upon an increase in the temperature, occurrence of eutectic and peritectic reactions, and subsequent relaxation of structures in the two-phase solid/liquid region of phase diagrams. It has been shown that the rate of grain growth and the relation between different grain boundary types in the total spectrum depend on the enthalpy of mixing.