hexagonal close-packed structure

hexagonal close-packed structure

[hek′sag·ə·nəl ¦klōs ¦pakt ′strək·chər] (crystallography) Close-packed crystal structure characterized by the regular alternation of two layers; the atoms in each layer lie at the vertices of a series of equilateral triangles, and the atoms in one layer lie directly above the centers of the triangles in neighboring layers. Abbreviated hcp structure.