INTRODUCTION TO MATERIAL SCIENCE: TEC 111 2020/2021

ACADEMIC
YEAR

Lecture Six

Scheduled: Week of 2nd November 2020

Learning outcomes
1. Describe the difference between crystalline and non-crystalline materials
2. List crystalline and non-crystalline materials
3. List the various types of crystal systems

Crystalline and Non-crystalline Structures

Introduction
▪ Solid materials may be classified as crystalline or non-crystalline
▪ This classification depends on the regularity with which atoms or ions are arranged
with respect to one another
▪ The crystalline state of a substance is that in which the constituent’s atoms of the
substance are arranged in a regular, repetitive and symmetrical pattern
a. “Regular” means highly organized
b. “Repetitive” means very many times
c. “Symmetrical Pattern” means some aspects of geometry (e.g. cubic, hexagonal)
▪ The atoms are located at regular and recurring positions in three dimensions (3D)
▪ The pattern may be replicated millions of times within a given crystal structure
▪ A crystal structure is an arrangement of atoms in a crystal
▪ The structure can be viewed in the form of a unit cell, which is the basic geometric
grouping of atoms that is repeated
▪ Some properties of crystalline solids depend on the crystal structure of the material
and the manner in which atoms are spatially arranged

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 INTRODUCTION TO MATERIAL SCIENCE: TEC 111 2020/2021
ACADEMIC
YEAR

Amorphous State

▪ Amorphous state of a substance means “without form”

▪ The term Amorphous is used to describe non-crystalline structures
▪ Non-crystalline substances are said to be without shape (Amorphous)
▪ Atoms of non-crystalline materials have a random formation
▪ The non-crystalline materials do not have their basic particles arranged in a geometric
pattern
▪ Metals and ceramics are crystalline solids while polymers and glasses are (non-
crystalline (amorphous)
▪ Lignocellulosic materials (consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) such as wood
possess both crystalline and amorphous structures within the same material
▪ The properties of some materials (e.g. density) are directly related to their crystal
structures
▪ Significant property differences exist between crystalline and non-crystalline materials
having the same composition
▪ Figure 8 shows the difference between crystalline and non-crystalline structures

Figure 8: Schematic representation of (a) crystalline and (b) non-crystalline materials

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 INTRODUCTION TO MATERIAL SCIENCE: TEC 111 2020/2021
ACADEMIC
YEAR

Crystal Classes/Systems

▪ In crystalline structure the atoms are arranged in an organized shape often referred to as
the crystal lattice
▪ Lattice means a three-dimensional (3D) array of points coinciding with atom positions
▪ This lattice consists of another smaller grouping of atoms each of which is called the
unit cell. This is shown in Figure 9

Figure 9: Schematic representation of part of a space lattice (unit cell outlined)

▪ The unit cell can be regarded as the smallest grouping of atoms
▪ The unit cells are stacked in 3D space to form the crystal
▪ Several (can be millions) similar crystal are classified into crystal systems

Examples of crystal systems include:

a) Cubic
b) Triclinic
c) Monoclinic
d) Rhombohedral

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 INTRODUCTION TO MATERIAL SCIENCE: TEC 111 2020/2021
ACADEMIC
YEAR

e) Hexagonal
f) Orthorhombic
g) Tetragonal

Figure 10 shows the different types of crystal systems

Figure 10: Crystal systems

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 INTRODUCTION TO MATERIAL SCIENCE: TEC 111 2020/2021
ACADEMIC
YEAR

▪ In a cubic crystal system, the crystals form cubes while in hexagonal crystal system, the
crystal form hexagons
▪ It is the cube or hexagon etc, that is Regular (highly organized), Repetitive (very many
times) and Symmetrical Pattern (some aspects of geometry)

Task
a. Differentiate between isotropy and anisotropy with respect to material properties
b. Differentiate between atomic structure and crystal structure

References:
[1] John Vernon, J. (1992). Introduction to engineering materials. (3rd edn.). London: Macmillan Press
Ltd.
[2] Callister, W. D. & Rethwisch, D.G. (2007). Materials Science and Engineering – An Introduction. (7th
edn.). New York: John Wiley and Sons.
[3] Ashby, F.M. & Jones, D.R.H. (2005). Engineering Materials 1: An Introduction to their Properties and
Applications. (3rd edn.). London: Butterworth Heinemann.

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