Chapter 3: The Structure of

Crystalline Solids

ISSUES TO ADDRESS...
• How do atoms assemble into solid structures?
(for now, focus on metals)

• How does the density of a material depend on

its structure?

• When do material properties vary with the

sample (i.e., part) orientation?
•
Energy and
Non dense, random packing
Packing
Energy

typical neighbor
bond length

typical neighbor r
bond energy

• Dense, ordered packing Energy

typical neighbor
bond length

typical neighbor r
bond energy

Dense, ordered packed structures tend to have

lower energies.
 Materials and Packing
Crystalline materials...
• atoms pack in periodic, 3D arrays
• typical of: -metals
-many ceramics
-some polymers crystalline SiO2
Adapted from Fig. 3.22(a),
Callister 7e.

Si Oxygen
Noncrystalline materials...
• atoms have no periodic packing
• occurs for: -complex structures
-rapid cooling
"Amorphous" = Noncrystalline noncrystalline SiO2
Adapted from Fig. 3.22(b),
Callister 7e.
 Crystal Systems
Unit cell: smallest repetitive volume which
contains the complete lattice pattern of a crystal.

7 crystal systems

14 crystal lattices

a, b, and c are the lattice constants

Fig. 3.4, Callister 7e.

Crystal Sytems
The Bravais lattices
 Metallic Crystal Structures
• How can we stack metal atoms to minimize
empty space?
2-dimensions

vs.

Now stack these 2-D layers to make 3-D structures

 Metallic Crystal Structures
• Tend to be densely packed.
• Reasons for dense packing:
- Typically, only one element is present, so all atomic
radii are the same.
- Metallic bonding is not directional.
- Nearest neighbor distances tend to be small in
order to lower bond energy.
- Electron cloud shields cores from each other
• Have the simplest crystal structures.

We will examine three such structures...

 Simple Cubic Structure (SC)
• Rare due to low packing density (only Po has this structure)
• Close-packed directions are cube edges.

• Coordination # = 6
(# nearest neighbors)

SC
(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)
 Atomic Packing Factor (APF)
Volume of atoms in unit cell*
APF =
Volume of unit cell
*assume hard spheres
• APF for a simple cubic structure = 0.52
volume
atoms atom
a 4
unit cell 1 p (0.5a) 3
3
R=0.5a APF =
a3 volume
close-packed directions
unit cell
contains 8 x 1/8 =
1 atom/unit cell
Adapted from Fig. 3.23,
Callister 7e.
 Body Centered Cubic Structure
(BCC)
• Atoms touch each other along cube diagonals.
--Note: All atoms are identical; the center atom is shaded
differently only for ease of viewing.

ex: Cr, W, Fe (), Tantalum, Molybdenum

• Coordination # = 8

Adapted from Fig. 3.2,

Callister 7e.

BCC 2 atoms/unit cell: 1 center + 8 corners x 1/8

(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)
 Atomic Packing Factor: BCC
• APF for a body-centered cubic structure = 0.68
3a

2a

Close-packed directions:
R length = 4R = 3 a
Adapted from
Fig. 3.2(a), Callister 7e.
a
atoms volume
4
unit cell 2 p ( 3a/4) 3
3 atom
APF =
3 volume
a
unit cell
 Face Centered Cubic Structure
(FCC)
• Atoms touch each other along face diagonals.
--Note: All atoms are identical; the face-centered atoms are shaded
differently only for ease of viewing.

ex: Al, Cu, Au, Pb, Ni, Pt, Ag

• Coordination # = 12

Adapted from Fig. 3.1, Callister 7e.

4 atoms/unit cell: 6 face x 1/2 + 8 corners x 1/8

FCC
(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)
 Atomic Packing Factor:
• APF for a face-centered cubic structure = 0.74
FCC
maximum achievable APF
Close-packed directions:
length = 4R = 2 a
2a
Unit cell contains:
6 x 1/2 + 8 x 1/8
= 4 atoms/unit cell
a
Adapted from
Fig. 3.1(a),
Callister 7e. atoms volume
4
unit cell 4 p ( 2a/4) 3
3 atom
APF =
3 volume
a
unit cell
 FCC Stacking Sequence
• ABCABC... Stacking Sequence
• 2D Projection
B B
C
A
A sites B B B
C C
B sites B B
C sites

A
• FCC Unit Cell B
C

Compare Between
SC, BCC, FCC
 Theoretical Density, r
Mass of Atoms in Unit Cell
Density = r =
Total Volume of Unit Cell

nA
r =
VC NA

where n = number of atoms/unit cell

A = atomic weight
VC = Volume of unit cell = a3 for cubic
NA = Avogadro’s number
= 6.023 x 1023 atoms/mol
 Theoretical Density, r
• Ex: Cr (BCC)
A = 52.00 g/mol
R = 0.125 nm
n=2
R
a a = 4R/ 3 = 0.2887 nm

atoms
g
unit cell 2 52.00 rtheoretical = 7.18 g/cm3
mol
r= ractual = 7.19 g/cm3
a3 6.023 x 1023
volume atoms
unit cell mol
 Densities of Material Classes
In general Graphite/
rmetals > rceramics > rpolymers
Metals/ Composites/
Ceramics/ Polymers
Alloys fibers
Semicond
30
Why? Platinum
Based on data in Table B1, Callister
*GFRE, CFRE, & AFRE are Glass,
20 Gold, W
Metals have... Tantalum Carbon, & Aramid Fiber-Reinforced
Epoxy composites (values based on
• close-packing 60% volume fraction of aligned fibers
10 Silver, Mo in an epoxy matrix).
(metallic bonding) Cu,Ni
Steels
• often large atomic masses Tin, Zinc
Zirconia

r (g/cm3 )
5
Ceramics have... 4
Titanium
Al oxide
• less dense packing 3
Diamond
Si nitride
Aluminum Glass -soda
• often lighter elements Concrete
Silicon PTFE
Glass fibers
GFRE*
2 Carbon fibers
Polymers have... Magnesium Graphite
Silicone CFRE*
Aramid fibers
PVC
• low packing density PET
PC
AFRE*
1 HDPE, PS
(often amorphous) PP, LDPE
• lighter elements (C,H,O)
0.5
Composites have... 0.4
Wood

• intermediate values 0.3

Data from Table B1, Callister 7e.
Solidification of polycrystals
 Polycrystals Anisotropic
• Most engineering materials are polycrystals.

Adapted from Fig. K,

color inset pages of
Callister 5e.
(Fig. K is courtesy of
Paul E. Danielson,
Teledyne Wah Chang
Albany)
1 mm

• Nb-Hf-W plate with an electron beam weld. Isotropic

• Each "grain" is a single crystal.
• If grains are randomly oriented,
overall component properties are not directional.
• Grain sizes typ. range from 1 nm to 2 cm
(i.e., from a few to millions of atomic layers).
 Crystals as Building Blocks
• Some engineering applications require single crystals:
--diamond single --turbine blades
crystals for abrasives Fig. 8.33(c), Callister 7e.
(Fig. 8.33(c) courtesy
(Courtesy Martin Deakins, of Pratt and Whitney).
GE Superabrasives,
Worthington, OH. Used with
permission.)

• Properties of crystalline materials

often related to crystal structure.
--Ex: Quartz fractures more easily
along some crystal planes than
others.
(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)
 Single vs Polycrystals
• Single Crystals E (diagonal) = 273 GPa
Data from Table 3.3,
-Properties vary with Callister 7e.
(Source of data is R.W.
direction: anisotropic. Hertzberg, Deformation
and Fracture Mechanics
-Example: the modulus of Engineering
Materials, 3rd ed., John
of elasticity (E) in BCC iron: Wiley and Sons, 1989.)

E (edge) = 125 GPa

• Polycrystals
-Properties may/may not 200 mm Adapted from Fig.
4.14(b), Callister 7e.
vary with direction. (Fig. 4.14(b) is courtesy
of L.C. Smith and C.
-If grains are randomly Brady, the National
Bureau of Standards,
oriented: isotropic. Washington, DC [now
the National Institute of
(Epoly iron = 210 GPa) Standards and
Technology,
-If grains are textured, Gaithersburg, MD].)
anisotropic.
 Polymorphism
• Two or more distinct crystal structures for the same
material (allotropy/polymorphism)
iron system
titanium
liquid
, -Ti
1538ºC
BCC -Fe
carbon
diamond, graphite 1394ºC
FCC -Fe
912ºC
BCC -Fe
 Polymorphism or Allotropy
• Materials exist in more than one crystalline form. This is
called polymorphism or allotropy.
• Temperature and pressure leads to change in crystalline
forms.
• Examples: Titanium exists in the form of: , -Ti,
Carbon exists in the form of diamond and graphite
Iron exists in both BCC and FCC form depending on the temperature.
Liquid
Iron

-2730C 9120C 13940C 15390C

α Iron γ Iron δ Iron

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 Atom Positions in Cubic Unit
• Cartesian coordinateCells
system is used to locate atoms.
• In a cubic unit cell
 y axis is the direction to the right.
 x axis is the direction coming out of the paper.
 z axis is the direction towards top.
 Negative directions are to the opposite of positive
directions.

• Atom positions are

located using unit
distances along the
axes.

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Figure 3.10 b24
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 Directions in Cubic Unit Cells
• In cubic crystals, Direction Indices are vector
components of directions resolved along each axes,
resolved to smallest integers.
• Direction indices are position coordinates of unit cell
where the direction vector emerges from cell surface,
converted to integers.

Figure 3.11
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 Procedure to Find Direction
Indices
Produce the direction vector till it
z
emerges from surface of cubic cell
(1,1/2,1) - (0,0,0)
(1,1/2,1)
Determine the coordinates of point = (1,1/2,1)
of emergence and origin y
(0,0,0) 2 x (1,1/2,1)
Subtract coordinates of point of x = (2,1,2)
Emergence by that of origin
The direction indices are [212]
NO
Are all are Convert them to
integers? smallest possible
YES integer by multiplying
Are any of the direction by an integer.
vectors negative?
NO
YES
Represent the indices in a square
Represent the indices in a square
bracket without comas with a
bracket without comas (Eg: [212] )
over negative index (Eg:I El[121])
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 •
Direction Indices - Example
Determine direction indices of the given vector.
Origin coordinates are (3/4 , 0 , 1/4).
Emergence coordinates are (1/4, 1/2, 1/2).
Subtracting origin coordinates
from emergence coordinates,
(1/4, 1/2, 1/2)-(3/4 , 0 , 1/4)
= (-1/2, 1/2, 1/4)
(note the correction)

Multiply by 4 to convert all

fractions to integers
4 x (-1/2, 1/2, 1/4) = (-2, 2, 1)
Therefore, the direction indices are [ 2 2 1 ]

families of directions <uvw>, ex <100>,<111> & <110>

Figure EP3.6
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•
Miller Indices
Miller Indices are are used to refer to specific lattice
planes of atoms.
• They are reciprocals of the fractional intercepts (with
fractions cleared) that the plane makes with the
crystallographic x,y and z axes of three nonparallel
edges of the cubic unit cell.
z
Miller Indices =(111)

x
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 Miller Indices - Procedure
Choose a plane that does not pass
through origin

Determine the x,y and z intercepts

of the plane

Find the reciprocals of the intercepts

Clear fractions by
Fractions?
multiplying by an integer
Place a ‘bar’ over the to determine smallest set
Negative indices of whole numbers

Enclose in parenthesis (hkl)where h,k,l

are miller indicesof cubic crystal plane
forx,y and z axes. Eg: (111)
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 Miller Indices - Examples
z

(100)
• Intercepts of the plane at x,y &
y z axes are 1, ∞ and ∞
• Taking reciprocals we get
x (1,0,0).
x
• Miller indices are (100).
*******************
• Intercepts are 1/3, 2/3 & 1.
• taking reciprocals we get (3,
3/2, 1).
• Multiplying by 2 to clear
fractions, we get (6,3,2).
• Miller indices are (632).
Figure
I El3.14
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 Miller Indices - Examples
• Plot the plane (101)
Taking reciprocals of the indices
we get (1 ∞ 1).
The intercepts of the plane are
x=1, y= ∞ (parallel to y) and z=1. Figure EP3.7 a
******************************
• Plot the plane (2 2 1)
Taking reciprocals of the indices
we get (1/2 1/2 1).
The intercepts of the plane are
x=1/2, y= 1/2 and z=1.

Figure EP3.7 c
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 Miller Indices - Example
• Plot the plane (110)
The reciprocals are (1,-1, ∞)
The intercepts are x=1, y=-1 and z= ∞ (parallel to z axis)

z
(110)

To show this plane in a

single unit cell, the origin
is moved along the
positive direction of y
axis by 1 unit. y

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 Miller Indices – Important Relationship

• Direction indices of a direction perpendicular to a

crystal plane are same as miller indices of the plane.
z
• Example:-

y
(110)

[110] x Figure EP3.7b

• Interplanar spacing between parallel closest planes

with same miller indices is given by
a
d hkl 
h k l
2 2 2

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 The following are more
examples on crystallographic
planes and directions

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 Crystallographic Planes

Adapted from Fig. 3.9, Callister 7e.

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 Crystallographic Planes
z

example a b c c
1. Intercepts 1 1 
2. Reciprocals 1/1 1/1 1/
1 1 0
y
3. Reduction 1 1 0
a b
4. Miller Indices (110) x
z
example a b c
1. Intercepts 1/2   c
2. Reciprocals 1/½ 1/ 1/
2 0 0
3. Reduction 2 0 0 y
4. Miller Indices (100) a b

x
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 Crystallographic Planes
z

example a b c
c
1. Intercepts 1/2 1 3/4 
2. Reciprocals 1/½ 1/1 1/¾
2 1 4/3  y
a  b
3. Reduction 6 3 4
x
4. Miller Indices (634)

Family of Planes {hkl}

Ex: {100} = (100), (010), (001), (100), (010), (001)

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