Glass-Crystal Boundaries in Liquid-Phase Sintered Ceramics

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe interface between dewet glass droplets and the free surface of a crystal and the interface between the intergranular glass and adjoining crystalline grains have been examined with particular emphasis on the influence of the crystallography of the free surface and the grain boundary. The wetting of liquid on the free surface has been shown to depend on the surface structure. The migration of boundaries containing a liquid phase has been studied. The migration is initiated by the difference in surface energy of the bounding planes. Faceting of the grain boundary planes has been examined. It is proposed that the boundary migrates by the motion of the facets.