Crystal

Imperfactions
Mr. Amir D. Patel
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
 Introduction
• A crystal is a solid composed of atoms, ions, or
molecules arranged in a pattern which is
repetitive in 3D.
• In Ideal crystal, arrangement of atoms is
regular.
• But, real crystals as in cast or welded objects
are never perfect.
• Lattice disorder, Various imperfections,
irregularities or defects are presents in them.
Classification of Imperfection
Crystal
Imperfections

Volume
Point Defect Line Defect Surface Defect
Defect

Vacancies Edge Grain

Interstitialcies Screw Tilt

Impurities Twin

Electronic
 Point Defects
• Vacancy – An atom missing from regular lattice
position. Vacancies are present invariably in all
materials.
• Interstitialcy – An atom trapped in the
interstitial point (a point intermediate between
regular lattice points) is called an interstitialcy.
• An impurity atom at the regular or interstitial
position in the lattice is another type of point
defect.
Vacancy
Interstitialcy
Impurities (Foreign Atom)
 Schottky Defect
• When vacancies are created by movements of
atoms from positions inside the crystal to
positions on the surface of the crystal, a schottky
defect is said to be formed.
 Frankel Defect
• When ion or atom displaced from the lattice
into an interstitial site is called as Frankel
Defect.
 Electronic Defect
• Result of errors in charge distribution in solids.
• These defects are free to move in crystal
under the influence of an electrical field.
 Line Defects
• Most important 2D (Line Defects)
is dislocation.
• It is a disturbed region between
two substantially perfect parts of
crystals.
• The upper region of the crystal
over the slip plane has slipped
relative to the bottom portion.
The line (AD) between the slipped
and unslipped portions is the
dislocation.
• The magnitude and direction of
slip produced by dislocation
• (pink shaded) is the Burger vector.
 Edge Dislocation
• It lies
perpendicular to
Burger ‘s Vector.
• It moves in the
direction of burger
‘s vector.
• It involves an extra
row of atoms,
either above (+ve)
or below (-ve) the
slip plane.
 Screw Dislocation
• It (AD) is Parallel
to Burger ‘s
Vector.
• It moves in the
direction
perpendicular to
burger ‘s vector.
• The distortion
follows helical or
screw path.
 Surface Defects
• Most crystalline solids are an aggregate of several
crystals. Such materials are called polycrystalline.
• Each crystal is known as a grain. The boundary
between the grains is the grain boundary.
• A grain boundary is a region of atomic disorder in
the lattice only a few atomic diameter wide.
• Grain boundaries act as obstacles to dislocation
motion. Hence, presence of more grain
boundaries (finer grain size) will increase the
strength.
Grain Boundaries
 Tilt Boundaries
• It is an array of edge
dislocation.
• It is a low angle
boundaries.
Ɵ < 10 degree
D = Dislocation Spacing
b = Length of Burger
Vector
 Twin Boundaries
• These are the
boundaries in
the grains at
which atomic
arrangement on
one side of
boundary is the
mirror image of
the atoms on the
other sides.
 Volume or Bulk Defects
• Basically it is classified in three groups.
I. Porosity
II. Inclusions
III. Cracks
• These defects form during manufacturing
processes for various reasons and are harmful
to the material.
• Casting blow holes, porosity – Gas entrapment
during melting and pouring. Improper welding
parameters/practice.
• Shrinkage cavity due to improper risering
• Non - metallic inclusions – Slag, oxide particles
or sand entrapment
• Cracks – Uneven heating/cooling, thermal
mismatch, constrained expansion/contraction
all leading to stress development