Crystalline Materials

CRYSTALLINE MATERIALS

The materials in which the atoms are arranged in a systematic pattern (regular pattern) are known as crystalline materials.

In these materials, the arrangement of atoms is in a periodically repeating pattern.

Single and Poly Crystalline Materials

The crystalline material is either a single crystal or poly-crystal. In single crystal, the entire material consists of only one crystal. (Fig. 1.1 (a))

In poly - crystal material, a collection of many small crystals is separated by well-defined boundaries. (Fig. 1.1 (b))

The atomic arrangements of single crystal and poly - crystal are shown in fig 1.1 (a) and (b).

The crystalline materials are made up of either metallic crystals or non-metallic crystals.

Example

Metallic crystals - Iron, copper, silver, aluminium, tungsten, etc.

Non-metallic crystals - Crystalline carbon, germanium, silicon, crystallized polymers, etc.