CRYSTAL DEFECTS

Description & importance

 FUNDAMENTALS
 Metals are not perfect neither at the macrolevel
and nor at the microlevel

 Contain a number of different types of crystalline

defects (at the atomic level)

 Defects are important in many processes e.g.

diffusion, deformation
 TYPES OF DEFECTS
A. POINT DEFECTS OR ZERO-DIMENSIONAL DEFECTS

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In pure metals In alloys

1. VACANCY 1. SUBSTITUTIONAL IMPURITY
2. SELF-INTERSTITIAL 2. INTERSTITIAL IMPURITY

Important in diffusionImportant in strengthening

Mechanism of diffusion

VACANCY
B. Line defects or one-dimensional defects

Edge dislocation

Screw
dislocation
VERY IMPORTANT IN PLASTIC DEFORMATION
 C. Planar (surface) defects or two-dimensional defects
1. Stacking Fault
Perfect stacking
Extrinsic stacking
Intrinsic
fault stacking fa
A A A A

B B
A A A A
B B B B
A A A A

C C C C
B B B B
A A A A
C C C C
B B
A A A A
C C C C
B B B B
A A A A
2. Grain Boundaries
 D. Volume defects or three-dimensional defects

scientists classify grains as volume de

QUESTIONS
 Some basics on alloys
 Two types
Solid solutions Compounds
E.g. Fe3C, CuAl2

Substitutional Interstitial
Solid solution Solid solution
E.g. Brass (Cu-Zn)E.g. Steel (Fe-C)
Cu-10%Zn or Cu-30%Zn
Fe-0.2%C or Fe-0.4%C

C Z F C
PHASE DIAGRAMS