The ramification of micropipes was observed by using scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy and synchrotron X-ray radiography. The conditions for the ramification of dislocated micropipes were determined within a model where the angles between dislocation lines were small. It was shown that the ramification of a micropipe into 2 smaller ones was possible only for micropipes with radii that exceeded the

equilibrium micropipe radius, and was associated with a decrease in the total micropipe surface area.

Ramification of Micropipes in SiC Crystals. M.Y.Gutkin, A.G.Sheinerman, T.S.Argunova, J.H.Je, H.S.Kang, Y.Hwu, W.L.Tsai: Journal of Applied Physics, 2002, 92[2], 889-94