NTLectureonDefectsinMaterials.PDFVIP

Defects in Materials •Planar defects (Interfaces and grain boundaries) •Line defects (dislocations) •Point defects (impurity atoms, vacancies) Why are defects important? Because they have influence on properties not only by themselves but also through interaction with other various defect types. 1 Mechanical properties are determined by the microstructure and defect content -Nearly all failures are due to a crack formation (both alloys, ceramics and polymers). -Cracks propagate if the elastic energy released exceeds the surface energy exposed at the crack surfaces. -What we often try to do is to make the crack tip difficult to move. -The longer you can keep the cross section constant, the less stress you get. -Here we will discuss the types of defects and their impact on mechanical deformation and electrical properties (at the end of the lecture). -We will discuss when is “sub micron” or “nano size” grain structures are fine and when they are more prone to failure than coarse-grain materials. 2 Defects in materials are inevitable: They will always form due to the fact that all processes are almost always far from equilibrium and take place at finite temperatures (0 K). High angle grain boundaries (Polycrystalline samples and engineerin 3 materials). When grain size is in submicron regime: Nanograined structure ! Another type of planar defect: Low angle grain boundaries accomodated by dislocations Line defects can accomodate the misorientation between two tilted regions Low angle grain boundaries 4 HRTEM image of a low angle GB HRTEM