Experimental determination of solid–liquid interfacial energy for solid Sn in the Sn–Mg system

The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes for solid Sn in equilibrium with the Sn–9 at.% Mg eutectic liquid were directly observed annealing a sample at the eutectic temperature for about 5 days with a radial heat flow apparatus. The thermal conductivities of the solid phase, κS, and the liquid phase, κL, for the groove shapes were measured. From the observed grain boundary groove shapes, the Gibbs–Thomson coefficient, the solid–liquid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy for solid Sn in equilibrium with the Sn–9 at.% Mg eutectic liquid have been determined to be (7.35 ± 0.36) × 10−8 Km, (136.41 ± 13.64) × 10−3 J m−2 and (230.95 ± 25.40) × 10−3 J m−2, respectively.