Surface Effect and Structure of Single Crystal Wires

Abstract

SOME months ago, Mr. R. F. Y. Randall and I¹ reported on the effect of certain electrolytes, applied at the surface, on the flow of cadmium single crystals. We recorded that the immersion in solutions of cadmium sulphate and chloride, and particularly in commercial plating solution, led at once to a permanent increase in the rate of flow of single-crystal cadmium wires which were under stress, while cadmium nitrate solutions caused an immediate increase of rate followed by a decrease and final cessation of flow, a hardening effect which we attributed to the formation of a surface film, probably of oxide.