The Growth and Deformation of Ice Crystals

Abstract

AbstractX-ray diffraction photographs were taken of ice dendrites grown from water and from the vapour. In both cases [1120] was found to be the growth direction.A method of growing cylindrical single crystals of any desired orientation has been devised. Some of these crystals were extended to several times their original length. Slip took place exclusively on the basal plane. Experiments designed to locate the glide direction gave inconclusive results and suggested that, in general, crystals near the melting point can glide in any direction.Before deformation, ice crystals gave fairly sharp X-ray diffraction spots on Laue photographs. After deformation the spots are drawn out into streaks which later break up into rows of small spots. This indicates that bending of the crystals is followed by the formation of small crystallites of slightly differing orientations. Analogous effects are observed in metals.