Modern aspects of plastic deformation in metals

After a historical survey of crystal plasticity the rôle of dislocations in plastic deformation of metals is outlined. The theory of plastic deformation in metal single crystals before the impact of transmission electron microscopy is described. Recent experimental results on glide and workhardening in single crystals of b.c.c. metals are reviewed and explained by a simple dissociation model of the screw-dislocation cores. A relative success of this explanation together with calculations of atomic structure of dislocation cores support the conclusion that different structures of screw dislocation cores are responsible for both differences and similarities between plastic behaviour of f.c.c. and b.c.c. metals. Further developments in the field of metal crystal plasticity by modern experimental techniques (transmission electron microscopy of deformed crystals in the stress-applied state, magnetic studies of dislocations in ferromagnetic crystals) and by atomic calculations of defect configurations are discussed.Na Slovance 2, Praha 8, Czechoslovakia.Invited paper presented on a plenary session of the First European Conference on the Physics of Condensed Matter organized by the Board of the Condensed Matter Division of E.P.S., in Florence on 14–17 September 1971 (Chairman: Prof. S. F. Edwards; Schuster Laboratory, University of Manchester).