Formation of the Excess Free Volume in Triple Junctions during Nickel Crystallization

Abstract

The formation of an excess free volume in triple junctions during crystallization has been studied by the molecular dynamics model using nickel as an example. It is shown that an excess free volume that forms during nickel crystallization in triple junctions predominantly forms as a result of the fixation of the liquid phase volume when contacting three crystallization fronts that contains, after crystallization, a high fraction of the free volume. In some cases, as the free volume is concentrated in triple junctions, a comparatively small crystalline subgrain (from one to several nanometers in diameter) forms, and the subgrain has the orientation different from those of contacting grains and exists in the extended state.