A number of different point defects occur in metallic crystals. Self-defects include vacancies and self-interstitials. Soluble atoms also create point defects:
- Small solute atoms (e.g., carbon in iron) that sit in the spaces between the parent atoms are called interstitials.
- Larger solute atoms ocupy the same sites as the parent atoms and are called substitutional atoms.
Click on the diagram oppposite to show each of the different types of point defect.