Fractal dimensions of recrystallized quartz grain boundaries and grain fabrics

Abstract EN

We measured the fractal dimensions of dynamically recrystallized quartz grain boundaries subjected experimentally to various deformation conditions (temperature 800°C to 1000°C and strain rate 10–6 to 10–4 sec–1).

We investigated both the individual fractal dimension DI for each grain, using the box-counting method, and the collective fractal dimension DC for whole grain fabric, using the area–perimeter method.

The individual fractal dimension DI showed an inverse variation with grain size and converged to the value of DC as the grain size increased.

During dynamic recrystallization, grain boundary serration would be modified by neighboring grain interactions including bulging, nucleation, and boundary migration.

The pattern of variation of DI appears to suggest that a restricted range of shapes results from grain boundary serration or smoothing processes as the grain is growing or being consumed.