Mechanical behaviour and fracture mechanism of flux grown holmium orthoferrite single crystals

• Published in: The Journal of physics and chemistry of solids Vol. 65; no. 7; pp. 1359 - 1365
• Main Authors: Bhat, Monita, Kaur, Balwinder, Bamzai, K.K., Kotru, P.N., Wanklyn, B.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; D. Mechanical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Fatigue, brittleness, fracture, and cracks; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties of solids; Physics; Tribology and hardness; D. Mechanical properties; Vickers hardness; Inorganic compounds; Ruptures; Transition element compounds; Cracking; Orthoferrites; Rare earth compounds; Experimental study; Brittleness; Indentation; Microhardness; Fracture toughness; Monocrystals; Yield strength; Non linear effect; Iron oxides; Rupture strength; Holmium oxides
• ISSN: 0022-3697; 1879-2553
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpcs.2004.03.008

Results of indentation induced microhardness and fracture studies on (110) and (001) planes of flux grown HoFeO 3 single crystals using a Vicker's hardness tester, in the load range of 10–100 g are presented. The variation of microhardness with load is found to be non-linear and is explained by using Hays and Kendall's law. The hardness results and the indentation-induced cracking yields the values of the yield strength, fracture toughness and brittleness index for (110) and (001) planes of HoFeO 3 crystals. Transition from Palmqvist to median crack systems takes place at higher loads for (110) plane of the crystal whereas (001) plane is characterized by Palmqvist cracks only.