dislocation

An atomic imperfection or fault in the crystalline lattice structure.

NOTE 1 The two types are edge dislocations (if a row of atoms is removed or displaced and the slippage is at right angles to the displacement) and screw dislocations (if the slippage is parallel).

NOTE 2 If dislocations appear at the surface of the crystal, they are sometimes referred to as surface dislocations.

References