It was recalled that, in non-stoichiometric oxides, 2 thermodynamic parameters (temperature, O partial pressure) were necessary in order to fix the point defect population. When one of these parameters was suddenly changed, and a physical property was continuously monitored, a transient was observed which was due to the diffusion of the point defects in order to attain the new thermodynamic equilibrium population. Much work had been devoted to the majority point defects (non-stoichiometry), but an overview was presented here of high-temperature transitory plastic deformation which was related to minority point defects.

M.Jiménez-Melendo, A.Domínguez-Rodríguez, J.Castaing: Acta Metallurgica et Materialia, 1995, 43[10], 3589-604