Abstract

Ice grain boundary energies r_gb relative to the free surface energy were determined by studying the topographic details revealed by plastic replicas of the ice grain boundary groove-free surface with a Laser Confocal 3D Microscope. The samples analyzed were high purity ice bicrystals, with /? tilt grain boundaries, annealed at -18 ^oC. Values obtained of r_gb/r_s were analyzed using coincidence site lattice (CSL) theory. Significant correspondence was found between the r_gb/r_s values and the planar density ? of coincident sites on the interface plane. The results show that r_gb/r_s depends on the GB inclination and may be up to one order of magnitude different.

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