Abstract Scope |
When basal planes of layered crystalline solids, LCS - such as graphite, mica, phyllites or the MAX phases, among others - are loaded edge-on in compression, they typically fail by kink bands formation. The latter were long assumed to be caused by basal dislocations. Recently we made the case that bulk ripplocations are the operative deformation mechanism in most LCSs. In other words, we have been making the case that atomic layers, like other layered systems such as playing cards, laminated composites, etc.- deform by constrained buckling. Using HRTEM, we and others, presented direct evidence for bulk ripplocations in Ti3SiC2, phyllosilicates and graphite. We also showed that ripplocations are the key mechanism for kinking non-linear elasticity and for c-axis strain exhibited by LCSs. We further applied a folding mechanics model that appears to be valid over ten orders of magnitude in scale. |