Interstitial Defect
Interstitials are a variety of crystallographic defects, i.e. atoms which occupy a site in the crystal structure at which there is usually not an atom, or two or more atoms sharing one or more lattice sites such that the number of atoms is larger than the number of lattice sites. They are generally high energy configurations. Small atoms in some crystals can occupy interstitial sites in an energetically favourable configuration, such as hydrogen in palladium. Interstitials can be produced for instance by particle irradiation above the threshold displacement energy, but may also exist in small concentrations in thermodynamic equilibrium.
Read more about Interstitial Defect: Self-interstitials, Impurity Interstitials, Effects of Interstitials
Famous quotes containing the word defect:
“It is to be lamented that the principle of national has had very little nourishment in our country, and, instead, has given place to sectional or state partialities. What more promising method for remedying this defect than by uniting American women of every state and every section in a common effort for our whole country.”
—Catherine E. Beecher (1800–1878)