The plasticity of pure single crystals

The theory of the work-hardening curve of a pure single crystal is discussed. An outline is given of the experimental methods available for the study of the mechanism of plastic deformation and work hardening. An attempt is made to correlate existing theories of work hardening. The theory is illustrated by discussions of copper, of other face-centred cubic metals, of the diamond and sphalerite structures, of hexagonal close-packed metals, of ionic face-centred cubic crystals and of body-centred cubic metals.