ES 322

Activity 1.2.1
Atomic Packing Factor

Atomic Packing Factor (APF) is the efficiency of atomic arrangement in a unit cell used to
determine the densest arrangement of atoms, which eventually determines the properties
of the crystal. APF is typically applied to metallic crystal structures. In solving the APF, atoms
are assumed to be closely packed and are treated as ‘hard spheres’:

(no. of atom, n)(volume of atoms in the unit cell, Vs )

APF =
volume of the unit cell, Vc

In metals there is usually only one atom, but in ceramics, there could be more than 1.
Suppose there are 3 kinds of atoms: A, B, and C. The expanded version in solving APF is:

ni Vi nA VA +nB VB+nC VC
APF= ∑ =
i Vc Vc

To solve for the volumes, we use Vcube = a3, where a is the length of a side of the cube, and
4
Vsphere= 3 πr3, where r is the radius of the sphere.

For Primitive/Simple Cubic lattice (PC or SC) (Refer to Lesson Sheet 1.2), the structure is a
cube with an atom on each corner of the cube. The size of the cube will be determined by
the size of the atoms.

Open Visualization Cut-out strictly inside a unit cell.

In solving for the number of atoms and the volume in a unit cell for APF, we use the cut-out
diagram. For SC, based on the diagram, the corner represents 1/8 of an atom (sphere). We
have 8 corners, therefore the number of atoms in a SC unit cell is:

n = 8(1/8) = 1 atom/unit cell

And in solving the volume of the atom in the unit cell, which in the case of SC is for 1 atom,

4
Vs = πr3
3

In the diagram, the side of the unit cell (cube), represented as a, is equal to two radii of the
sphere. Therefore a = 2r, and in solving the volume of the cube,

Vcube = a3 = (2r)3 = 8r3

Solving for the APF for SC,
4
(1)( 3 πr3 ) π
APF = = ≈ 0.52
8r3 6

For this activity, solve for the APF for Body-Centered Cubic (BCC) and Face-Centered Cubic
(FCC) lattices. Use the format on the last page of this activity sheet. You may print it and
then scan The activity should be handwritten with diagrams.

For BCC, the structure is a cube with an atom in each corner of the cube and a single atom
at the center of the cube.

Open Visualization Cut-out strictly inside a unit cell.

Hint: a ≠ 2r, but the atoms only touch along the body diagonal, therefore a can be calculated
by setting the hypotenuse using the body diagonal, which comprises the diameter of the
center atom and the radii of the 2 diagonal corner atoms, and the base as the face diagonal,
forming a right triangle.

For FCC, the structure is a cube with atoms located at each of the corners and the centers of
all the cube faces. No atom in the center of the cube.

Open Visualization Cut-out strictly inside a unit cell.

Hint: same with BCC, a ≠ 2r, but the atoms touch along the face diagonal, therefore a can be
calculated by setting the hypotenuse using the face diagonal, which comprises the diameter
of the center atom and the radii of the 2 diagonal corner atoms. Since the right triangle is
formed using the face, the legs are both a.
Name: Signature:
Course & Year:

Activity 1.2.1
Atomic Packing Factor

Body-Centered Cubic Lattice:

Face-Centered Cubic Lattice: