Difference between revisions of "Twinning"
From Online Dictionary of Crystallography
| Line 18: | Line 18: | ||
Twins are classified following Friedel ''reticular'' (i.e. lattice) ''theory of twinning'' which indicates the presence, either in the lattice or a sublattice of a crystal, of (pseudo)symmetry elements as necessary, even if not sufficient, condition for the formation of twins. In presence of the reticular necessary conditions, the formation of a twing finally depends on the matching of the crystal structures at the contact surface between the individuals. | Twins are classified following Friedel ''reticular'' (i.e. lattice) ''theory of twinning'' which indicates the presence, either in the lattice or a sublattice of a crystal, of (pseudo)symmetry elements as necessary, even if not sufficient, condition for the formation of twins. In presence of the reticular necessary conditions, the formation of a twing finally depends on the matching of the crystal structures at the contact surface between the individuals. | ||
| − | + | ''[[twinning by merohedry]]'' | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Revision as of 14:56, 21 April 2006
Maclage (Fr). Zwillingsbildung (Ge). Maclado (formación de macla) (Sp). двойникование (Ru). Geminazione (It)
Contents
Oriented association and twinning
Crystals (also called individuals) belonging to the same phase form an oriented association if they can be brought to the same crystallographic orientation by translation, rotation or reflection. Individuals related by a translation form a parallel association; strictly speaking these individuals have the same orientation even without applying a translation. Individuals related either by a reflection (mirror plane or centre of symmetry) or a rotation form a twin.
- symmetry of a twin
An element of symmetry crystallographically relating differently oriented crystals cannot belong to the individual. The element of symmetry that relates the indivduals of a twin is called twinning element of symmetry and the connected operation is a twinning operation of symmetry. The Mallard law states that the twin element (i.e. the geometrical element relative to which the twining operation is defined) is restricted to a direct lattice element: lattice nodes (twin centres), lattice rows (twin axes) and lattice planes (twin planes).
In most twins the symmetry of a twin (twin point group) is that of the individual point group augmented by the symmetry of the twinning operation; however, a symmetry element that is oblique to the twinning element of symmetry is absent in the twin (e.g., spinel twins: m[math] \bar 3[/math]m crystal point group; {111} twin law; [math] \bar 3[/math]/m twin point group.
Classification of twins
Twins are classified following Friedel reticular (i.e. lattice) theory of twinning which indicates the presence, either in the lattice or a sublattice of a crystal, of (pseudo)symmetry elements as necessary, even if not sufficient, condition for the formation of twins. In presence of the reticular necessary conditions, the formation of a twing finally depends on the matching of the crystal structures at the contact surface between the individuals.
- twinning by pseudomerohedry
A lattice is said to be pseudosymmetric if at least a lattice row or/and a lattice plane approximately correspond to elements of symmetry; these elements can act as twinning operators (e.g., a monoclinic lattice with its oblique angle close to 90° is pseudo-orthorhombic and thus shows two pseudo twofold axes and two pseudo mirror planes).
- twinning by reticular merohedry
In the presence of a sublattice displaying symmetry other than that of the crystal lattice, a symmetry element belonging to the sublattice point group but not to the crystal point group can act as twinning operator. If lattice and sublattice have the same point group but (some of) their elements of symmetry are differently oriented twins by polyholohedry can form.
- twinning by reticular pseudomerohedry
Substituting lattice with sublattice, the definition of twinning by reticular pseudomerohedry corresponds to that given for the twinning by pseudomerohedry.
- overlap of lattices
By effect of a twinning operation, both the direct and reciprocal lattice of the individuals forming a twin are overlapped. Overlapping (restoration) of nodes belonging to different individuals can be: (i) exact and total (twinning by merohedry); (ii) exact but partial (i.e. only a fraction of the nodes of an individual lattice is restored; twinning by reticular merohedry); (iii) total but approximate (twinning by pseudomerohedry), approximate and partial (twinning by reticular pseudomerohedry).
- twin index
The reciprocal n of the fraction 1/n of (quasi)restored nodes is called twin index
- twin lattice
The lattice that is formed by the (quasi)restored nodes is the twin lattice. It corresponds to the crystal lattice in twins by (pseudo)merohedry and to a sublattice of the crystal (individual) in twins by reticular (pseudo)merohedry.
- twin obliquity
The twin obliquity is a measure of the distorsion of a (sub)lattice in twins by (reticular) pseudomerohedry.
- twinning by metric merohedry
- corresponding twins
Other categories of twins
Endemic conditions for twinning
See also
Chapter 1.3 of International Tables of Crystallography, Volume C
Chapter 3.3 of International Tables of Crystallography, Volume D