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?

Chapter 3 - 1
 Energy and Packing
• Non dense, random 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

higher (lower in negative) energies.
Chapter 3 - 2
 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.

Chapter 3 - 3
 Section 3.3 – Crystal Systems
Unit cell: smallest repetitive volume which
contains the complete lattice pattern of a crystal.

7 crystal systems:
cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal,
..etc

14 crystal lattices

a, b, and c are the lattice constants

Fig. 3.4, Callister 7e.

Chapter 3 - 4
 Simple Cubic Structure (SC)
• Rare due to low packing density (only Po: polonium has
this structure)
• Close-packed directions are cube edges.
• Coordination # = 6
(# nearest neighbors)

(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)

Chapter 3 - 5
 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 (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. Chapter 3 - 6
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.

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

(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)
Chapter 3 - 7
 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  ( 3a/4) 3
3 atom
APF =
3 volume
a
unit cell Chapter 3 - 8
 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

(Courtesy P.M. Anderson)
Chapter 3 - 9
 Atomic Packing Factor: FCC
• APF for a face-centered cubic structure = 0.74
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 3
unit cell 4 ( 2a/4)
3 atom
APF =
3 volume
a
unit cell
Chapter 3 - 10
 Hexagonal Close-Packed Structure
(HCP)
• ABAB... Stacking Sequence
• 3D Projection • 2D Projection

A sites Top layer

c
B sites Middle layer

A sites Bottom layer

a Adapted from Fig. 3.3(a),
Callister 7e.

• Coordination # = 12 6 atoms/unit cell

• APF = 0.74 ex: Cd, Mg, Ti, Zn
• c/a = 1.633 Chapter 3 - 12
 Theoretical Density, 

Mass of Atoms in Unit Cell

Density =  =
Total Volume of Unit Cell

nA
 =
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

Chapter 3 - 13
 Theoretical Density, 
• 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 theoretical = 7.18 g/cm3
mol
= actual = 7.19 g/cm3
a3 6.023 x 1023
volume atoms
unit cell mol Chapter 3 - 14
 Densities of Material Classes
In general Metals/
Graphite/
Composites/
metals > ceramics > polymers Alloys
Ceramics/
Semicond
Polymers
fibers
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

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

• intermediate values 0.3

Data from Table B1, Callister 7e.
Chapter 3 - 15
 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)

Chapter 3 - 16
 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
(PROPERTIES IN ALL DIRECTIONS SAME).
• Grain sizes typ. range from 1 nm to 2 cm
Chapter 3 - 17
(i.e., from a few to millions of atomic layers).
 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 m 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
-If grains are textured, Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD].)
anisotropic.

Chapter 3 - 18
 Section 3.6  – 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

Chapter 3 - 19
 Section 3.8 Point Coordinates
z
111 Point coordinates for unit cell
c center are
a/2, b/2, c/2 ½½½

000
y
a b
Point coordinates for unit cell
x  corner are 111
z 2c


Translation: integer multiple of

  lattice constants  identical
b y position in another unit cell
b
Chapter 3 - 20
 Crystallographic Directions
z Algorithm
1. Vector repositioned (if necessary) to pass
through origin.
2. Read off projections in terms of
unit cell dimensions a, b, and c
y 3. Adjust to smallest integer values
4. Enclose in square brackets, no commas

x [uvw]

ex: 1, 0, ½ => 2, 0, 1 => [ 201 ]

-1, 1, 1 => [ 111 ] where overbar represents a
negative index
families of directions <uvw>
Chapter 3 - 21
 Linear Density
Number of atoms
• Linear Density of Atoms  LD = 
Unit length of direction vector

[110]
ex: linear density of Al in [110]
direction 
a = 0.405 nm

# atoms
a 2
LD   3.5 nm 1
length 2a

Chapter 3 - 22
 Crystallographic Planes

Adapted from Fig. 3.9, Callister 7e.

Chapter 3 - 23
 Crystallographic Planes
• Miller Indices: Reciprocals of the (three) axial
intercepts for a plane, cleared of fractions &
common multiples. All parallel planes have
same Miller indices.

• Algorithm 
1.  Read off intercepts of plane with axes in
terms of a, b, c
2. Take reciprocals of intercepts
3. Reduce to smallest integer values
4. Enclose in parentheses, no
commas i.e., (hkl)

Chapter 3 - 24
 Crystallographic Planes
z
example a b c
1. Intercepts 1 1  c
2. Reciprocals 1/1 1/1 1/
1 1 0
3. Reduction 1 1 0 y
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
Chapter 3 - 25
 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

3. Reduction 6 3 4 a b

4. Miller Indices (634) x

Family of Planes {hkl}

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

Chapter 3 - 26
 Crystallographic Planes (HCP)
• In hexagonal unit cells the same idea is used
z

example a1 a2 a3 z
1. Intercepts 1  -1 1
2. Reciprocals 1 1/ -1 1
1 0 -1 1 a2

3. Reduction 1 0 -1 1
a3

4. Miller-Bravais Indices (1011) a1

Adapted from Fig. 3.8(a), Callister 7e.

Chapter 3 - 27
 Crystallographic Planes
• We want to examine the atomic packing of
crystallographic planes
• Iron foil can be used as a catalyst. The
atomic packing of the exposed planes is
important.
a) Draw (100) crystallographic planes
for Fe.
b) Calculate the planar density for each of these
planes.

Chapter 3 - 28
 Planar Density of (100) Iron
Solution:  At T < 912C iron has the BCC structure.
2D repeat unit

(100) 4 3
a R
3

Adapted from Fig. 3.2(c), Callister 7e. Radius of iron R = 0.1241 nm

atoms
2D repeat unit 1
1 atoms atoms
Planar Density = = 2 = 12.1 = 1.2 x 10 19

area a2 4 3 nm 2
m2
R
2D repeat unit 3
Chapter 3 - 29
 Section 3.16 - X-Ray Diffraction

• Diffraction gratings must have spacings comparable to

the wavelength of diffracted radiation.
• Can’t resolve spacings  
• Spacing is the distance between parallel planes of
atoms.  
Chapter 3 - 30
 X-Rays to Determine Crystal Structure
• Incoming X-rays diffract from crystal
d planes.
et
ec
to

”
r

“1
in -ra
co y s
X
y s reflections must

m
-ra be in phase for
in

”
“2
X
g
a detectable signal

“1
ng
”
extra
o i 
“2
g Adapted from Fig. 3.19,
distance
 ut 
”
o Callister 7e.
travelled
by wave “2” spacing
d between
planes

Measurement of X-ray
intensity n
critical angle, c, d
(from 2 sin c
allows computation of
detector)
planar spacing, d.

c
Chapter 3 - 31
 X-Ray Diffraction Pattern
z z z
c c c

y (110) y y
a b a b a b
Intensity (relative)

x x x (211)

(200)

Diffraction angle 2

Diffraction pattern for polycrystalline -iron (BCC)

Adapted from Fig. 3.20, Callister 5e.

Chapter 3 - 32
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpRBpSMqJ
Xc

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hQosd9H2a
U

Chapter 3 - 33
 SUMMARY
• Atoms may assemble into crystalline or
amorphous structures.
• Common metallic crystal structures are FCC, BCC, and

HCP. Coordination number and atomic packing factor

are the same for both FCC and HCP crystal structures.
• We can predict the density of a material, provided we
know the atomic weight, atomic radius, and crystal
geometry (e.g., FCC, BCC, HCP).
• Crystallographic points, directions and planes are
specified in terms of indexing schemes.
Crystallographic directions and planes are related
to atomic linear densities and planar densities.

Chapter 3 - 34
 SUMMARY

• Materials can be single crystals or polycrystalline.

Material properties generally vary with single crystal
orientation (i.e., they are anisotropic), but are generally
non-directional (i.e., they are isotropic) in polycrystals
with randomly oriented grains.
• Some materials can have more than one crystal
structure. This is referred to as polymorphism (or
allotropy).
• X-ray diffraction is used for crystal structure and
interplanar spacing determinations.

Chapter 3 - 35