Crystal defects

02/18/17

“How do we classify imperfections in crystals?”

 

Ideal crystals never exist. For every material arrangement out there, there exists some form of a defect within its structure. Specifically, there will be some form of irregularity through its patterned nature called a crystal defect.These defects can be classified into three distinct types: Point defects (when a single atom in the crystalline lattice is placed out of order), Linear defects (when atom groups are found to be erroneous), and planar defects (two-dimensional errors which include grain boundaries and other mishaps that occur between boundaries in a material). The word defect is actually a misnomer since these phenomena can actually strengthen the properties of a material