| Abstract: | Microhardness of KBr crystals doped with various concentration of Ba2+ have been investigated in the asgrown state and after quenching from various elevated temperatures. It is observed that hardness increases with increase in impurity concentration and at high concentration the hardness starts decreasing. Microstructural investigations have showed the formation of visible precipitates at high concentrations. The heat treatment studies showed that in crystals quenched from elevated temperatures the visible precipitates dissociate and hardness increases. |
