Question

What is a slip system and what role does it play in plastic deformation? 

Answer 1

A slip system refers to slip planes or lines at which dissociation motion occurs. Slip system leads to plastic deformation. A slip system is composed of a slip plane and a slip direction. Slip planes and slip directions in a crystal have distinct crystallographic forms. Slip directions vary from crystal to crystal. When plastic deformation occurs in a grain, it will be controlled by its neighbors (with less favorably oriented). If sufficient stress is performed on the metal to permanently deform it is called plastic deformation. Plastic deformation involves the breaking of a limited number of atomic bonds by the movement of dislocations. The movement of dislocations allows atoms in crystal planes to slip past one another at a much lower stress levels. Since the energy required to move is lowest along the densest planes of atoms. Dislocations have a preferred direction of travel within a grain of the material. This results in slip that occurs along parallel planes within the grain. These parallel slip planes group together to form slip bands.