How Do Grain Boundaries Affect Material Properties?
- Mechanical Strength: Grain boundaries can either strengthen or weaken a material. In many cases, they act as barriers to dislocation movement, enhancing yield strength through mechanisms such as grain boundary strengthening. - Electrical Conductivity: Grain boundaries can scatter electrons, reducing the electrical conductivity of nanomaterials. This is particularly critical in nanoelectronics where high conductivity is desirable. - Thermal Properties: Grain boundaries can impede heat flow, affecting the thermal conductivity of nanomaterials. This phenomenon is essential in designing materials for thermal management applications. - Chemical Reactivity: The increased surface area and energy at grain boundaries make them more chemically reactive, influencing catalytic activities and corrosion resistance.
