Interstitial defect

An interstitial defect is a crystal point defect in which an extra atom occupies a position between the lattice’s regular sites. It distorts nearby atoms and can alter a material’s properties.

Interstitialcy mechanism: A diffusion mechanism in which an interstitial atom displaces a lattice atom, which then occupies a nearby site. An interstitial atom can migrate by pushing a lattice atom into another position.
Crystal lattice: A periodic arrangement of points representing the repeating structure of a crystalline solid. Interstitial positions are defined relative to the lattice’s regular sites.
Interstitial solid solution: A solid solution in which smaller solute atoms occupy interstitial sites in a host crystal. It describes the material state produced when interstitial atoms are incorporated into a crystal.
Schottky defect: A charge-balanced set of vacancies in an ionic crystal, typically involving missing cations and anions. It creates missing ions rather than placing an extra atom between lattice sites.
Defect clustering: The aggregation of point defects into larger defect complexes or clusters within a solid. Interstitial atoms can aggregate, changing their stability and effects on the crystal.
Interstitial diffusion: The migration of small atoms through spaces between regular lattice sites in a solid. It describes how interstitial defects move through a crystal.
Point defect: A localized imperfection involving one or a few atomic sites in a crystal. Interstitial defects are one class of localized crystal imperfection.
Steel: An iron-based alloy whose carbon content and processing strongly influence its structure and properties. Carbon atoms in interstitial positions strengthen many steels.
Antisite defect: A point defect in an ordered crystal where an atom occupies a lattice site belonging to another species. It changes which atom occupies a regular site instead of adding an atom between sites.
Radiation damage: Structural and chemical changes in materials caused by exposure to energetic radiation. Radiation can create interstitial atoms alongside vacancies and drive their evolution.

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