Interfacial energy of phase boundaries
Interfacial energy is the energy remaining at the contact surface between two phases. It influences nucleation and grain growth and tends to minimize surface area.
Physical-Chemical Mechanism of Action
Interfacial energy is the energy that remains at the contact surface between two phases. This energy is maintained by the attractive forces between atoms or molecules and tries to minimize the surface.
Metallurgical Relevance & Risks in Welding
Interfacial energy influences nucleation and grain growth in the weld. High interfacial energy can lead to slow crystallization, resulting in a fine grain structure and increased toughness. A low value can, however, lead to faster nucleation and coarse grain, reducing strength.
Workshop Practice & Action Instructions
To achieve an optimal weld, it is important to control the interfacial energy. This can be done by choosing the right filler metal and the proper cooling steps. For high-strength steels with high interfacial energy, slow cooling should be preferred to achieve a fine structure. For steels with low interfacial energy, fast cooling makes sense to avoid coarsening.