The Activation Energy of Dislocation Movement

Abstract

Abstract An analysis is made of the thermodynamic quantities which enter into the rate equation for a dislocation moving by thermal activation under external and internal stresses. It is pointed out that the literature contains a number of erroneous statements mainly due to incorrect interpretations of the thermodynamic quantities. It is shown that a determination of the “activation energy” Δ G from experimental parameters can be made via a formula given by Conrad and Wiedersich although their derivation is also incorrect. The analysis shows that for a dislocation overcoming localized obstacles back fluctuations are generally negligible.