Structural phase transformations in metallic grain boundaries

Structural transformations at interfaces are of profound fundamental interest as complex examples of phase transitions in low-dimensional systems. Despite decades of extensive research, no compelling evidence exists for structural transformations in high-angle grain boundaries in elemental systems. Here we show that the critical impediment to observations of such phase transformations in atomistic modelling has been rooted in inadequate simulation methodology. The proposed new methodology allows variations in atomic density inside the grain boundary and reveals multiple grain boundary phases with different atomic structures. Reversible first-order transformations between such phases are observed by varying temperature or injecting point defects into the boundary region. Owing to the presence of multiple metastable phases, grain boundaries can absorb significant amounts of point defects created inside the material by processes such as irradiation. We propose a novel mechanism of radiation damage healing in metals, which may guide further improvements in radiation resistance of metallic materials through grain boundary engineering.