The Hexagonal Closed-packed Crystal Structure (HCP)

Adapted from Figure 3.30, W. Callister, Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering: An Integrated Approach, 2e, P. 71, Copyright (c ) 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, New York.
PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Number of Atoms per unit cell

First, each corner atom is shared among six unit cells. 1/6 Second, the atoms located in the center of the top and bottom planes belong to only two unit cells.

HCP

1/2

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Number of Atoms per unit cell

Third, there are three independent atoms in the center of this structure. So, a total of 6 whole atoms are assigned to such a unit cell.

HCP

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Number of Atoms per unit cell

For the HCP crystal structure, total of 6 whole atoms are assigned to a given structure.
1/6 1/2

HCP

1 1 12 + 2 + 3 = 6 6 2

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Coordination number
The coordination number for HCP is 12. For example, first, this blue atom has 6 nearest neighbors around it on this plane. Second, there are three atoms above it, and another three are beneath this atom.
PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

HCP

Atomic Radius and Lattice Parameter

The hexagon edge length a and the atomic radius R are related through

HCP

a=2R

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Atomic packing factor

The atomic packing factor is the fraction of solid sphere volume in cell, assuming the atomic hard sphere model. The APF for HCP is the same as FCC:0.74

HCP

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Atomic packing factor

1.Calculate the height C of the hexagonal structure with the aid of this regular tetrahedron.

HCP

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Atomic packing factor

b

HCP

3 2 3 b= a = a 2 3 3
a 6 = h = a b = a a 3 3
2 2 2 2

2 6 c = 2h = a 3
b
PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Atomic packing factor

2.Calculate the volume of atoms in a unit cell

HCP

4R 3 Va = 6 = a 3
3

3.Calculate the total unit cell volume

1 3 2 6 3 Vc = Sc = (6 a a) a = 3 2a 2 2 3

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

Atomic packing factor

4. The atomic packing factor for the HCP

HCP

APFHCP

Va a 3 2 = = = = 0.74 6 Vc 3 2a 3

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com

PDF created with pdfFactory Pro trial version www.pdffactory.com