Correlation between microhardness and dislocation mobility in crystals with a different type of bond

The complex investigations of microhardness and dislocation mobility in temperature interval 77–873 K have been performed on ionic crystals, semimetals and covalent crystals. It is shown that the correlation between the microhardness and dislocation mobility exists as a whole only. The temperature change of microhardness is not often connected with the change of dislocation mobility. An “anomalous” behaviour of semimetals has been established – they have a small microhardness and a low dislocation mobility at a time.     

A Study on the Microhardness of Organic Molecular Solids

An extensive study of the variation of microhardness with load in a large number of crystals of some organic molecular solids has been carried out. The plots of hardness versus load show peaks at specific loads and these have been attributed to the different slip systems in these crystals. These slip systems are in accordance with the crystal structure of these crystals and are dependent on the shape and way the molecules are geometrically deposed in the unit cell of the crystals.     

Synthesis and growth of PbTe crystals at low temperature and their characterization

Lead telluride crystals have been grown for the first time by the cold traveling heater method. The structural properties of the crystals have been studied by neutron diffraction, and rocking-curves with a full-width at half-maximum of about 36 arcsec have been measured, indicating a very weak mosaicity. The lattice parameter of the crystals has been found to be ∼0.64618±0.00004 nm by X-ray diffraction. Vickers microhardness in the range 25–30 kg/mm² have been measured, depending on the charge applied to the crystals. The electronic properties of the crystals, either as-grown or annealed, have been measured and demonstrate their very high purity level, as expected from the low-temperature growth and purification process by traveling heater method. Finally, the potentialities of PbTe as a substrate for the growth of HgCdTe layers are discussed in the light of all the results reported.     

Microhardness studies of ammonium hydrogen tartrate single crystals

Single crystals of ammonium hydrogen tartrate AHT NH₄HC₄H₄O₆ have been grown employing the controlled reaction between NH₄Cl and (CHOHCOOH)₂ by slow diffusion process in silica gels. The variation in the microhardness of AHT crystals has been determined using Vicker's microhardness indentor. The effects of annealing and quenching on the mechanical properties of these crystals have been studied. It is observed that: (i) irrespective of the relative orientation of the indentor and the crystal, the median vents initiated at the sharp indentation edges, (ii) the microhardness of the crystals depends on the applied load, (iii) the microhardness of the crystal is independent on the duration of loading, and (iv) maximum plasticity is observed in quenched crystals. The implications of this behaviour are discussed.     

Indentation deformation of magnesium orthosilicate single crystals

The variation in the microhardness of the magnesium orthosilicate crystals has been determined using Vicker's microhardness indentor. The length of the rays of dislocation rosettes around the indentation, obtained by etching the indented cleavages have been measured. It is observed that: (i) irrespective of the relative orientation of the indentor and the crystal, the median vents initiated at the sharp indentation edges, (ii) the microhardness of the crystals depends on the applied load, and (iii) the microhardness of the crystal is independent on the duration of loading. The implications are discussed.     

Vickers Micromechanical Indentation Studies of Barium Oxalate Dihydrate Crystals

Vickers microhardness measurements have been carried out on gel grown single crystals of barium oxalate dihydrate. The dependence of hardness on indentation load has been described. Attempts have also been made to understand the cracks developed around the micro indentation. The material chipping off and median vents observed around indentation figures have been discussed. Also explained are the fracture at high indentation load. The average load independent hardness value is 58.27 kg · mm².     

Structural and mechanical properties of KН2PО4 single crystals with embedded nanoparticles and organic molecules

Single crystals of KDP crystals with embedded Urea molecules and TiO₂ nanoparticles have been grown from aqueous solution by the temperature lowering method. The effect of the organic molecules and nanoparticles on the structural and mechanical properties has been studied. It has been observed that addition of Urea molecules improves laser induced damage threshold and mechanical strength of the crystal, while TiO₂ nanoparticles have the opposite effect. The structure and composition of KDP:Urea crystal are studied by three‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, which reveals the existence of a correlation between the increase of the microhardness value and the change of the crystal lattice parameter. The surface features of KDP:TiO₂ crystals are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy that reveals the presence of quasi‐equidistant growth bands caused by capture of the nanoparticles. It is shown that the rise of TiO₂ nanoparticles concentration up to 10⁻⁴ wt.% and higher resulted in 3‐fold reduction of the laser damage threshold of KDP:TiO₂ relative to pure KDP in [001] and [100] crystallographic directions. It is found that microhardness and fracture toughness decrease at the nanoparticles concentration of 10⁻³ wt.% due to crack formation at crystal lattice discontinuities. The grown crystals also have been subjected to dielectric studies.     

Deformation and microhardness studies on natural apophyllite crystals

Microhardness testing of three different planes of natural apophyllite crystals is reported. Variation of Vicker's microhardness value H_v with applied load ranging from 10–100 g indicates two distinct regions. In the low load region (10–70 g) H_v increases with load till it attains maximum value and then decreases thereafter. This variation is explained qualitatively in terms of depth of penetration of the indentor. Variation of orientation of the indentor w.r.t. each of the (100) and (111) planes indicates microhardness anisotropy.     

Crystal growth,thermal and optical studies of L‐histidine tetrafluoroborate: A semiorganic NLO material

L‐histidine tetrafluoroborate (L‐HFB), a semiorganic nonlinear optical (NLO) material has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and FT–NMR spectroscopic studies. Solubility of L‐HFB has been determined in water and ethanol. The single crystals with dimensions 15 x 12 x 3 mm³ were grown by slow evaporation technique under two different pH conditions. The effect of pH on the morphology of the crystals have been studied. The grown crystals of both pH values has been subjected to single crystal X‐ray diffraction to determine the unit cell dimensions and morphology. The thermal stability has been analyzed by TGA and DTA. The microhardness test was carried out in (001) plane and the hardness coefficient was calculated. The birefringence values (Δ_n) were determined in the wavelength region 5540–6460 Å. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of γ irradiation on the optical and mechanical properties of langasite

The optical (transmission and circular dichroism) spectra and mechanical (Vickers microhardness and fracture toughness K _1c ) properties of langasite La₃Ga₅SiO₁₄ crystals have been studied after γ irradiation and exposure for a month. It is shown that, as a result of irradiation crystals become more transparent in the range 310–640 nm, nonstructural defects with the energies of excited states in the range 2.06–4.13 eV decay and new structural defects with the excited-state energies in the range 4.14–5.00 eV are formed. Irradiation does not lead to a change in microhardness, while the coefficient K _1c increases from 0.32 to 0.36 MPa m^1/2.     

Habit modification and improvement in properties of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) crystals doped with metal ions

Potassium hydrogen phthalate (KAP) single crystals were grown by slow evaporation and slow cooling techniques. The growth procedure like temperature cooling rate, evaporation rate, solution pH, concentration of the solute, supersaturation ratio etc., has been varied to have optically transparent crystals. Efforts were made to dope the KAP crystals with rubidium, sodium and lithium ions. The dopant concentration has been varied from 0.01 to 10 mole percent. Good quality single crystals were grown with different concentrations of dopants in the mother phase. Depending on the concentration of the dopants and the solution pH value, there is modification of habit. Rubidium ions very much improve the growth on the prismatic faces. The transparency of the crystals is improved with rubidium and sodium doping. The role of the dopants on the non‐linear optical performance of KAP indicates better efficiency for doped crystals. The grown crystals were characterized with XRD, FT‐IR, chemical etching, Vickers microhardness and SHG measurements. The influence of the dopants on the optical, chemical, structural, mechanical and other properties of the KAP crystals was analysed. © 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim     

Microhardness studies of K1−xRbxCl crystals

The microhardness measurements have been made on pure crystals of KCl, RbCl and mixed crystals of K_1−xRb_xCl. Microhardness varies non-linearly with composition being maximum near at the eqimolar composition. Microhardness values calculated from lattice parameter data are in good agreement with experimental data. The difference in the size of the ion constituting the mixed system is responsible for the internal strains giving rise to imperfections and inturn responsible for the non-linear variation of microhardness with composition.     

Microhardness investigations on gel-grown barium cadmium oxalate mixed crystals

Microhardness characteristics of barium-cadmium oxalate crystals were undertaken using the indentation technique and the results there of are reported. The observed results were compared with the microhardness values of barium oxalate dihydrate and cadmium oxalate trihydrate crystals. The indentation induced cracks etched in 1N HCl reveal the surface of the dislocation pattern arround indentation mark. The mixed crystals show higher values of microhardness than the components barium oxalate dihydrate and cadmium oxalate trihydrate crystals.     

Crystal growth and investigation of CuAlxGa1−xTe2 solid solutions

Alloys of the CuGaTe₂‐CuAlTe₂ system have been synthesized by the one‐temperature method and homogenized by annealing. It was established for the first time by X‐ray and DTA methods that a continuous row of solid solutions is formed in the system. Large block crystals of CuAl_xGa_1−xTe₂ solid solutions have been grown by the Bridgman method (horizontal version). Measurements of density, microhardness and thermal expansion have been carried out on the grown crystals. It has been established, that the density and thermal expansion coefficients are changed linearly with composition, microhardness has a maximum at x = 0.6. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Characterization of the Microhardness of Ion-implanted GaP

Implantation induced changes of the microhardness are studied in GaP single crystals which were bombarded with ions in the range of mass numbers M = 1–40. It is observed that point defects and incorporated hydrogen have a stronger hardening effect. The effect of defect complexes is lower, and amorphized layers are softer than crystalline layers.     

Magnetostimulated changes of microhardness in potassium acid phthalate crystals

A decrease in microhardness along the (010) cleavage in potassium acid phthalate single crystals by 15–18% after the application of a permanent magnetic field is revealed for the first time. It is shown that the effect revealed is of the volume character. The role of interlayer water in the processes stimulated by a magnetic field is studied. Interlayer water does not cause the observed changes; it only plays the part of an indicator of these changes in potassium acid phthalate crystals in a magnetic field. It is established that microhardness in the (100) plane of the crystal in an applied a magnetic field first increases by 12–15% and then remains constant in time within the accuracy of the experiment. The possibility of varying the crystal structure of potassium acid phthalate crystals by applying magnetic fields inducing rearrangement in the system of hydrogen bonds or in the defect structure is discussed.     

The influence of a magnetic field on the microhardness of K,Rb, Cs,NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>, and Tl acid phthalate crystals

The influence of a magnetic field on the microhardness of potassium acid phthalate has been studied for different magnetic inductions, exposure times, sample orientations in a magnetic field, and impurity compositions of the crystals. It was shown that the magnetic field effect is multiply repeated on the (010) face after relaxation. The influence of magnetic treatment on ammonium, rubidium, thallium, and cesium acid phthalate crystals is analyzed. The reasons for the observed changes in the crystal microhardness in the magnetic field are discussed.     

Crystallization of an organic intercalation compound: cholic acid

Crystals of cholic acid have been grown in silica and tetramethoxy silane gels. Crystals grew with different morphology and Leisegang rings were also seen in some cases. Crystals were analyzed by X-ray, IR and microhardness studies. The grown crystals were found to be monohydrate and the hardness of the crystals were found to decrease with increase of load.     

Growth and characterization of diaquatetrakis (thiocyanato) cobalt (II) mercury (II) N-methyl-2-pyrolidone (CMTWMP) single crystals

Single crystals of diaquatetrakis (thiocyanato) cobalt (II) mercury (II) N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, (CoHg(SCN)₄·(H₂O)₂·2(C₃H₆CONCH₃) (abbreviated as CMTWMP) were grown using slow solvent evaporation technique. The structure of the grown crystals was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The optical properties of the crystals were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis–NIR transmission spectra. The grown crystals of CMTWMP were also subjected to dielectric, photoconductivity, thermal and microhardness studies. The photoconductivity study of CMTWMP confirms the electrochromism behaviour in the sample. The SHG efficiency of the sample was measured by Kurtz and Perry powder technique and its value is almost comparable with KDP.     

Defect characterization of mixed SrCa tartrates

A few defect characteristics which are typical of gel-grown mixed single crystals of SrCa tartrates (Sr_1−XCa_xC₄H₄O₆ · 4H₂O) having different concentration, x, of the cations have been described. The temperature of decomposition has been found to be related, to some extent, to dislocation concentration. The magnitude of configurational entropy, which is a manifestation of lattice disorder, has been computed. The Vickers microhardness and dislocation density of crystals have been found to bear good correlation. An empirical formula has been suggested to explain the observed variation in microhardness with the concentration of ions in the mixed lattice.