X-ray topographic investigations of dislocations in sodium chlorate

Self-nucleation in saturated aqueous solutions of sodium chlorate leads principally to the formation of crystals of {100} habit which are highly perfect. Occasionally, crystals of the more complex form {100}, {110}, {120}, {111} can occur. These are more defective and highly strained. All crystals contain growth dislocation alignments characteristic of the growth sector within which they propagate as defined by a theoretical analysis. These are of edge, mixed and screw character and predominantly have Burgers vectors a 〈100〉. Occasionally higher energy dislocations with Burgers vectors a〈110〉 are found. These are very few in number in crystals of the simple habit but occur more frequently in the multifaceted crystals. The calculated line energy of the dislocations formed is less than about 100 eVnm−1.