Defects in crystals refer to imperfections in the orderly arrangement of atoms within a crystalline structure. These defects can take various forms, including point defects (such as vacancies and interstitials), line defects (like dislocations), and surface defects (such as grain boundaries). They significantly influence the material's physical properties, including strength, electrical conductivity, and optical characteristics, ultimately affecting its performance in various applications. Understanding and controlling these defects is crucial in materials science and engineering.
Watts has written: 'Point defects in crystals' -- subject(s): Crystals, Defects
Defects in crystals are called thermodynamic defects because they influence the overall energy or thermodynamic properties of the crystal lattice. These defects can affect the stability, entropy, and other thermodynamic properties of the crystal structure. They are considered in the context of thermodynamics as they impact the equilibrium state and behavior of the crystal material.
Crystals with line defects are thermally unstable as its ethalpy change increases more than its entropy change. This leads to an increased in Gibbs free energy.
Any change in the configuration of the lattice of the crystal which causes the crystal structure to deviate from the ideal structure is called a crystal structure. It is of the following types - Point defects Line defects Surface defects volume defects
Lewis T. Chadderton has written: 'Nucleation of damage centres during ion implantation of silicon' -- subject(s): Crystals, Defects, Nucleation, Silicon crystals 'Fission damage in crystals' -- subject(s): Crystals, Effect of radiation on, Nuclear fission
Within a crystal there are point defects and line defects; point defects are missing or extra lattice points within the crystal lattice (vacancies or interstitials), line defects may be due to an 'extra' half lattice plane within the crystal. The end of a line defect plane is known as an edge dislocation, screw dislocations occur where part of a crystal is displaced over one lattice direction and is therefore twisted. Dislocation loops can occur where an edge and a screw dislocation intersect.
Crystal defects significantly influence the properties of crystals by altering their mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical characteristics. For example, point defects can disrupt the regular arrangement of atoms, leading to changes in strength and ductility. Dislocations can enhance the plasticity of materials, while vacancies can affect conductivity. Overall, defects can be engineered to tailor the properties of materials for specific applications.
Real crystals have more entropy than ideal crystals because they have imperfections such as vacancies, dislocations, and grain boundaries that introduce disorder in their structure. These defects provide more ways for atoms or molecules to arrange themselves, increasing the disorder and thus the entropy of the system. Ideal crystals, on the other hand, have a perfect and orderly arrangement of atoms with no defects, resulting in lower entropy.
Crystals have defects due to imperfections that occur during their formation or as a result of external factors such as temperature, pressure, or radiation. These defects can arise from various sources, including the misalignment of atoms, vacancies (missing atoms), interstitials (extra atoms in the lattice), or impurities from foreign elements. Such defects can significantly affect the physical properties of the material, including its strength, electrical conductivity, and optical characteristics. Ultimately, while ideal crystals have a perfect arrangement, real-world conditions often lead to these imperfections.
Different crystals have different colors due to variations in their chemical composition and atomic structure. The way light interacts with these properties leads to the absorption and reflection of certain wavelengths, resulting in the observed colors. Impurities and defects in the crystal lattice can also influence its color.
A. P. Zhernov has written: 'Metally s nemagnitnymi primesnymi atomami' -- subject(s): Defects, Metal crystals, Physical metallurgy
Recrystallization should cool slowly to allow the crystals to form and grow gradually, producing larger and more pure crystals. Rapid cooling can lead to the formation of small crystals or impurities being trapped within the crystal lattice, affecting the purity of the final product.