What are the operative slip systems in hcp metals?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on the operative slip systems in hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals, particularly the confusion surrounding the number of slip systems and the corresponding directions. The main slip system identified is {001}<100>, but there is debate over whether there are two or three slip systems based on the directions [100], [010], and [110]. Participants clarify that in hcp structures, the symmetry allows for certain directions to be equivalent, leading to the conclusion that six directions correspond to the corners of a hexagon, but inversion symmetry reduces this to three unique directions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the rotational symmetry in hcp structures to grasp why certain directions belong to the same family. Overall, the complexities of slip systems in hcp metals hinge on their unique symmetry properties.
Chemist20
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Hello,

I'm having looots of trouble trying to find out the operative slip systems of hcp metals. the slip system is {001}<100> and in my notes it says that there are 3 slip systems and I don't see why! I'm guessing there's only one slip plane the (001) or (0001), and three directions. But the three directions I'm calculating are [100]. [010] and [001], which in the 4-indices system are: [2 -1 -1 0], [-1 2 -1 0] and [0 0 0 1]. Is this correct?

If it is correct, then only the first two are contained in the (001) plane, so there should be only 2 SLIP SYSTEMS!

I'm lost!
 
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Yes, i know that for hco you usually use 4 indices, but you can also talk about 3, since these can converted into the 4-inices system! Eg: {001} is the same as {0001}. what i don't see is how do I know which directions are equivalente in hcp and therefore belong to the same family?

Regards.
 
The fourth index is only added (between the 2nd and 3rd) to make like planes look like.

(H K L) contains all the necessary information, but often (H K (-H-K) L) is written.

(1 0 0) would then become (1 0 -1 0).

(1 0 -1 0), (0 -1 1 0), (-1 1 0 0) are all in the same star, which is easy to see in the 4-index notation.

(1 1 -2 0) is in a different star with (-2 1 1 0), (1 -2 1 0).
 
M Quack said:
The fourth index is only added (between the 2nd and 3rd) to make like planes look like.

(H K L) contains all the necessary information, but often (H K (-H-K) L) is written.

(1 0 0) would then become (1 0 -1 0).

(1 0 -1 0), (0 -1 1 0), (-1 1 0 0) are all in the same star, which is easy to see in the 4-index notation.

(1 1 -2 0) is in a different star with (-2 1 1 0), (1 -2 1 0).

right, so basically if i change the order or sign of the indices, they still belong to the same family?

then why do [100], [010] and [110] (in the 3 indices system) belong to the same family in hcp??!? don't seee why [110] should belong to the same one as the other two!
 
Chemist20 said:
right, so basically if i change the order or sign of the indices, they still belong to the same family?

then why do [100], [010] and [110] (in the 3 indices system) belong to the same family in hcp??!? don't seee why [110] should belong to the same one as the other two!
[110], [101], [011] is a different system than [100], [010], [001]. Look at the number of zero indices, and nonzero indices.

In hcp, basal planes are {0001}, primary prism planes {10-10}, and pyramidal planes {10-11}. Another pyramidal plane is {11-21}
 
Yes, just remember that the c-axis (00L) or (000L) has a completely different symmetry.
For HCP, you can change the sign, but this is not true for all hexagonal crystal classes.

It is counter-intuitive because the two in-plane vectors a* and b* are not at right angles.

Just take a piece of paper, draw a hexagon and sketch the vectors. You will see.
 
Yeap I see. But i still don't know why in my book it says that the three directions in the <100> family in hcp metals are [100] [010] and [110]...
 
You actually get 6 directions corresponding to the 6 corners of the hexagon. But HCP systems have inversion symmetry, so (110) is the same as (-1 -1 0) and this reduces to just 3 directions.
 
  • #10
M Quack said:
You actually get 6 directions corresponding to the 6 corners of the hexagon. But HCP systems have inversion symmetry, so (110) is the same as (-1 -1 0) and this reduces to just 3 directions.

I'm lost.. can you explain please?
 
  • #11
(1 1 0) you are looking at the top of the plane, (-1 -1 0) you are looking at the bottom of the plane.

If the plane is a symmetry plane, then that makes no difference. This is the case in HCP metals.

In lower symmetry systems that might make a difference - say above the plane there are OH groups attached, and below F ions.
 
  • #12
M Quack said:
(1 1 0) you are looking at the top of the plane, (-1 -1 0) you are looking at the bottom of the plane.

If the plane is a symmetry plane, then that makes no difference. This is the case in HCP metals.

In lower symmetry systems that might make a difference - say above the plane there are OH groups attached, and below F ions.

Yes, I do understand that. But why is the -1 -1 0 direction in the same family as 1 0 0 for hcp? That's what I don't get...
 
  • #13
The defining feature of all hexagonal crystal structures is a 3-fold rotation axis along c, i.e. if you rotate the whole crystal by 120 deg about the c-axis you end up with the same crystal structure.

If you rotate (1 0 0) by 120 deg, you get (0 1 0).
If you rotate (0 1 0) by 120 deg, what do you get?
 
  • #14
m quack said:
the defining feature of all hexagonal crystal structures is a 3-fold rotation axis along c, i.e. If you rotate the whole crystal by 120 deg about the c-axis you end up with the same crystal structure.

If you rotate (1 0 0) by 120 deg, you get (0 1 0).
If you rotate (0 1 0) by 120 deg, what do you get?

( 0 0 1) ?
 
  • #15
Nope. Try again :-)

(0 0 1) is the c-axis. You are rotating about the c-axis. How can any vector perpendicular to the axis or rotation become parallel to it?!?
 
  • #16
M Quack said:
Nope. Try again :-)

(0 0 1) is the c-axis. You are rotating about the c-axis. How can any vector perpendicular to the axis or rotation become parallel to it?!?

woops okay. so I am guessing the answer is 110 but i don't know why.!
 
  • #17
Oh well.. :-)

Let \vec{a}=\left(\begin{array}{c}0\\ 0\\1 \end{array} \right)

Let C_3 = \left( \begin{array}{ccc} c &amp; -s &amp; 0 \\ s &amp; c &amp; 0\\ 0 &amp; 0 &amp; 1 \end{array} \right)

With s=sin(120 deg) and c= cos(120 deg).

Calculate \vec{b} = C_3 \vec{a} and \vec{d} = C_3 \vec{b}

Write d as linear combination of a and b.

Show C_3^3 =1 and C_3 c = c with c=(0 0 1)
 
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