Crystals frequently have a characteristic polyhedral shape, bounded by flat faces. They are often too small to be seen without a high-powered microscope and many substances consist of thousands of tiny crystals (polycrystalline)1. For a crystalline solid, when the periodic and repeated arrangement of atoms is perfect or extends throughout the entirety of the specimen without interruption, the result is a single crystal.
Our objective is to first provide insight into single crystals and polycrystalline structures through animations. Secondly, we plan to add to these animations the tension, compression, strains, and dislocations undergone by these grains as a result of deformation.
1C.S. Barret, Structure of Metals 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, NY 1952, p1