Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
Mechanism of the slip transmission across the grain boundaries was studied on Σ3 bicrystals of Fe-4at%Si by transmission electron microscopy. In situ straining experiments as well as post mortem observations were performed. Three distinct events were observed in dependence on the angle α between the slip and grain boundary planes, namely transformation of the tertiary slip system in one grain into the secondary slip system in the other grain for α ≍ 90°, cross slip of dislocations of the primary slip system into the {112} plane parallel to the grain boundary for α ≍21°, and an abrupt formation of a sub-grain boundary in one grain for α ≍49°. Reasons for these diverse phenomena will be discussed in terms of interactions between the slip dislocations and the grain boundary dislocations.