UNIT I

CRYSTAL STRUCTURES AND DEFORMATION OFMATERIALS

1.1INTRODUCTION crystal structure (e.g. copper) are more ductile than
B.C.C. crystal structure (e.g. Mild steel).
Various properties of metals are governed by their
crystal structures. Broadly speaking, the crystal Cold worked copper with deformed grain structure
structure is a definite arrangement of atoms. It is also shows less electrical conductivity than the annealed
referred as atomic structure of metals. All metals and and equiaxed grain structure of copper.
their alloys are crystalline solids. Fine grained metal has higher strength and toughness.
Crystal structures are studied by their atomic Creep resistance of coarse grained structure is always
arrangements in particular planes and directions. The higher than fine grained structure.
density of metal depends upon packing factor of Highly stressed and distorted grain structure of
atoms. The plastic deformation property of metals austenitic stainless steel reduces its corrosion
depends upon the number of atoms in a typical plane. resistance.
Crystalline solids are never perfect in nature. They Two phase structure (e.g. alpha-beta brass) shows
showsome imperfections, which are termed as crystal higher hardness and strength than single phase
defects. Crystal structures are studied by using X-ray structure (e.g. alpha brass).
diffraction and electron microscopy. Composite materials have two or more phases, which
A metal can be deformed elastically or plastically. can give optimum physical, chemical or mechanical
Plastic deformation takes place by slip, twinning or properties (e.g. fibre glass reinforced plastics).
both. Metal can be deformed plastically by hot 1.3 CRYSTAL STRUCTURE (Dec. 17)
working or cold working. Crystal: A crystal is defined as a solid in which a
1.2 STRUCTURE PROPERTY RELATIONSHIP definite arrangement of atoms is observed in three
Broadly, the structure of a material can be classified on directions. Due to fixed positions of atoms, a crystalline
solid is considered as a three dimensional network.
three levels as:
Unit Cell: It is defined as the smallest
1. Crystal structure arrangement of
atoms which is a true representation of the crystal
2. Phase
structure and repeats in all possible directions.
3. Microstructure.
Crystal structure is a specific arrangement of atoms in
ordered condition. A phase is a structurally homogeneous
part of a system. The arrangement of grains, its size,
orientation and non-metallic contents comprise the C

microstructure of a metal. Various properties like

mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, electronic and
optical are directly dependent on the structure of
materials. By modifyíng the microstructure, the properties A a, B,y = Lattice angles
of materials can be altered.
Features:
F.C.C. crystal structure has more slip systems than (a) Lattice structure in crystal (b) Unit cell
B.C.C. crystal structure. Therefore, metals with F.C.c. Fig. 1.1: Space lattice
(1.1)
 ENGINEERING MATERIALS & METALLURGY
Space Lattice: It is defined as a three-dimensie
network of imaginary lines connecting the atoms
11 (a).
Lattice Parameter: The distance between the centre
It is
two atoms is defined as lattice parameter.
defined as the length of a unitce.
. Lattice Angles: These are defined as the
ang
between the edges of a unit cell.
b am
Fig. 1.1 (b) shows a typical unit cell. In this unit cell, a.
care the lattice parameters, while a, B and y are
the latti
angles. This unit cell is situated at the oriain
crystallographic axes x, y and z, mutually perpendicular
each other.
The various crystal systems that are commonly observe
are tabulated in Table 1.1 and shown in Fig. 1.2
Table 1.1:The Cryštal Systems
1. Cubic a = b = G, C= B = y=90°
2. Tetragonal a.= b. # G, a = B =Y= 90°.
3. Hexagonal a b#G, d = B = 90°, y =120°
4. Triclinic a #b G, a#BY 90°
5. Monoclinic a b C, a = Y= 90° # B
6. Orthorhombic a # b G, a= B =y= 90°
7. Rhombohedrala = b = G, a= ß = Ý 90°

Cubic Tetragonal Close-packed Triclinic

(2°=90°) (2°= 90°) hexagonal (a#B*)
(a) (b) (c) (d)

Monoclinic Orthorhombic Rhombohedral

(2° =90° except p) 2=90° (a + 90°)
(e) () (9

Fig. 1.2: Typical crystal structures