The Geometric and Thermodynamic Properties of Grain Boundary Junctions

We provide an overview of the properties of triple junctions and quadruple points. It is shown that these junctions may exhibit distinct behaviors that imply that they have and thermodynamically distinct properties in the same way that grain boundaries can be considered as thermodynamically distinct phases, separate from the material that they inhabit. It is shown that the treatment of triple junctions as thermodynamically distinct defects is a natural extension of the treatment of grain boundaries, and that it can be further extended to other junctions such as quadruple nodes. Equilibrium dihedral angles under conditions of anisotropic interfacial energy are explored, and it is found that the dihedral angles may be variable under a range of different conditions.