Intergranularis

Intergranularis is a term used in materials science to describe phenomena that occur at or across the boundaries between individual grains within a polycrystalline material. Grains are the small, crystalline regions that make up a solid material. The boundaries between these grains are known as grain boundaries.

Processes occurring intergranularis can significantly influence the overall properties of a material, including its mechanical strength, ductility, conductivity, and resistance to corrosion. For instance, creep deformation, a form of plastic deformation that occurs under constant stress at elevated temperatures, can often proceed by movement along grain boundaries. This is known as grain boundary sliding.

Similarly, fracture can occur intergranularis. This means that a crack propagates along the grain boundaries rather than through the grains themselves. Intergranular fracture is often associated with brittle behavior and can be a cause for concern in structural applications, especially if the grain boundaries are weakened by impurities or environmental degradation.

Diffusion of atoms or molecules can also occur more readily along grain boundaries than through the bulk of the grains, due to the more disordered atomic structure at these interfaces. This intergranular diffusion plays a role in processes like sintering, carburization, and the transport of impurities. Understanding and controlling intergranularis phenomena is therefore crucial for tailoring the performance of many engineering materials.