Creep behavior of cadmium and mercury were investigated in the liquid helium temperature range with emphasis on the possible mechanisms of creep. Creep was found to be temperature dependent at all temperatures of investigation down to 1.75 K, and impurities in the metals had no noticeable effects. Activation energies were determined in the range 1.75-30 K and activation volume measurements were carried out. Creep behavior in the liquid temperature range was found to differ little from the usual low temperature creep at higher temperatures. At liquid helium temperatures, however, creep did not follow low temperature theories, but correction could be made by Alefeld's new rate equation for processes at low temperatures. Quantum tunneling effects on creep were found to be unimportant at temperatures above 0.04 K. (Author).

This textbook describes the physics of the plastic deformation of solids at high temperatures. It is directed at geologists or geophysicists interested in the high-temperature behaviour of crystals who wish to become acquainted with the methods of materials science in so far as they are useful to earth scientists. It explains the most important models and recent experimental results without losing the reader in the primary literature of materials science. In turn the book deals with the essential solid-state physics; thermodynamics and hydrostatics of creep; creep models and their applications in the geological sciences; diffusion creep; superplastic deformation and deformation enhanced by phase transformations. Five concluding chapters give experimental results for metals, ceramics and minerals. There are extensive bibliographies to aid further study.