Lattice defects in plastic organic solids. Part 1.—Self-diffusion and plastic deformation in pivalic acid, hexamethylethane and cyclohexane

Abstract

Studies have been made of self-diffusion in the high temperature rotator phase of pivalic acid and of plastic flow (creep) in the same phase of pivalic acid, hexamethylethane and cyclohexane. For all these solids the creep process is self-diffusion controlled and probably occurs by a dislocation climb mechanism. The relatively high plasticity of this phase of matter can be explained tentatively on the basis that self-diffusion proceeds by the random walk of highly relaxed lattice vacancies. This is the first detailed investigation of the plasticity of these materials.