Using Auger electron spectroscopy to assess the effect of segregation on the interfacial characteristics of polycrystalline copper

Abstract

The possibility of using AES data on the composition of a free surface to assess surface and grain boundary tensions, and the grain boundary strength of polycrystalline copper, is discussed. Using familiar theoretical models, it is shown that sulfur impurity segregation substantially reduces these characteristics, with the energy of grain boundary fracture lowered by 5–8%.