Partial and mixed dislocations

Dislocations can be imaged and their Burgers vectors determined by using transmission electron microscopy. This technique has shown that many dislocations have a Burgers vector that is less than the repeat distance of the structure. These are called partial dislocations. 

Dislocations are introduced into solids when they crystallise. In addition, dislocations form in materials subjected to stress. There are a number of mechanisms by which new dislocations can form, but most require an existing dislocation to become 

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