Microhardness studies in alkali halide mixed crystals

Microhardness measurements done in KCl, KBr and in different compositions of KCl-KBr mixed crystals show that it varies nonlinearly with composition. In order to investigate the nature of defects, several techniques such as etching, ionic conductivity and dielectric loss have been employed which showed that the mixed cristals of KCl-KBr are more defective, containing a high concentration of dislocations, low-angle grain boundaries and vacancies as compared to the end products KCl and KBr. These imperfections appear to be responsible for the nonlinear variation of microhardness in mixed crystals. The microhardness studies also revealed that the difference in size of the ions constituting the mixed system are responsible for the internal strains which in turn give rise to imperfections affecting the microhardness of mixed crystals.