Novel approach to measuring interface stress of phase boundaries: The case of Ag/Ni

Based on the generalization of a capillary equation for solids, we develop a method for measuring the absolute value of phase-boundary stress in a particulate two-phase nanocomposite. Extracting interface stress requires precise measurement of residual-strain-free lattice parameters and determination of specific interfacial areas as well as volume fractions of phases. We find a value of 3.5 ± 0.2 N m−1 for the isotropic interface stress of the Ag/Ni phase boundary.