A convergence relationship between slip transmission and grain boundary migration in nanocrystalline nickel

In the present study, a geometric factor M proposed to predict slip transmission across grain boundaries (GBs) was lent to explore the factors influencing the stress-driven GB migration behaviors in nanocrystalline nickel under high strain rate loading. By confronting the relationship between slip systems in neighboring grain of the samples before and after high-rate loading, it is found that the geometric factor M of the remaining nano-grains in the impacted samples shifts to smaller values. This apparent correlation between GB migration and the geometric factor M can be understood in terms of two factors: the angle α between slip plane traces on the GB and the residual dislocation deposited at the GB plane to ensure the Burgers vector unity. Both contribute to slip transmission across GBs. •Slip transmission model was introduced to study the factors affecting grain boundary migration.•The disconnection induced by slip transfer dominates the process of grain boundary migration.•The geometric factor M may serve as a lens to assess the mobility of grain boundary.