Geometrical analysis of near polyhedral shapes with round edges in small crystalline particles or precipitates

Small crystalline particles or precipitates are often formed comprising near polyhedral shapes with round edges. Using the anisotropy of the surface energy given by a simple broken-bond model for fcc crystals, a geometrical analysis is performed to consider the particleshape dependence of surface energy. Polyhedral and nearly polyhedral particles composed of {100} and {111} planes are treated as examples. The effect of round edges on the variation of surface energy of the nearly polyhedral particles is discussed.