A brief overview of changes in the mechanical properties of solids, as driven by the point-defect chemistry, was presented. Two major types of effect were considered. These were direct effects caused by non-interacting point defects, and collective effects introduced by interacting point defects. The first group included changes in the linear dimensions of a solid in response to a change in defect concentration, and stresses introduced due to an inhomogeneous distribution of point defects (so-called chemical stress). The second group included defect order–disorder transitions accompanied by self-strain, and deviations from linear elastic behavior due to the dissociation/association of point defects. All of these became important if the concentration of point defects was above 1021/cm3. The effects could lead to significant anomalies in the mechanical properties: spontaneous stresses and strains, and changes in elastic constants.

Mechanical Properties and Defect Chemistry. I.Lubomirsky: Solid State Ionics, 2006, 177[19-25], 1639-42