noun
- materials composed of many small crystals or crystalline grains
Usage: technical; materials science
Examples
- Most metals are polycrystals made up of numerous tiny grains.
- The strength of polycrystals depends on their grain size and structure.
- Engineers study polycrystals to improve material properties.
- Polycrystals have different mechanical properties than single crystals.
- The microscope revealed the grain boundaries in the polycrystals.
- Solar cells can be made from polycrystals or single crystals.