STUDY OF THE EVOLUTION OF GRAIN BOUNDARY PROFILE ON THE SURFACE OF ICE BY EVAPO-DIFFUSIVE PROCESSES

Abstract

In this work, we studied the evolution of the groove that forms the grain boundary (BG) when it emerges to a free surface, in the presence of different processes of matter transport. The depth of a groove of the BG was obtained in an ice sample with orientation <101̅0>/50º at -5 ºC for 3 h in dry air, by using a confocal microscope. The experimental results are fitted correctly with a process of transport of matter governed mainly by gaseous diffusion.