Electron Microscope Studies on the Development of Slip Bands on KCl Whiskers

The development of slip bands on KCl whiskers made by Amelinckx's method has been investigated electron-microscopically using the replica method. Steep and discrete steps and moderate and homogeneous ones make groups of the width ranging from a few thousands Å to about one micron in the early stage of deformation, while a quasi-uniform distribution of slip bands is observed in the later stages. A cross slip mechanism seems to play important roles in the development of slip bands. The contribution of the stress field due to the alignment of screw dislocations for the cross slip is investigated. Cross slips over a long distance of about 10 microns observed at the top of Lüders bands, which propagate in the initial stage of deformation, are considered to be caused by the stress field due to these alignments.