The thermal expansion coefficient of a perfect crystal was predicted and thermal defect contributions, and their formation parameters, were deduced by subtracting the model results from macroscopic expansion coefficient measurements. The results were compared with extensive theoretical and experimental data on the vacancy formation parameters for Al. The formation parameters which were obtained here gave values of 0.67eV for the enthalpy and 2.66k for the entropy. The estimated vacancy concentration at the melting point was 0.0034.

The Perfect Crystal, Thermal Vacancies and the Thermal Expansion Coefficient of Aluminium. K.Wang, R.R.Reeber: Philosophical Magazine A, 2000, 80[7], 1629-43