Slip Behavior and Hardness Indentations in MnSe and MnSe‐MnS Solid Solutions

Single crystals in the solid solution series MnSe‐MnS were prepared, and selected surfaces were indented with either a Vickers or a Knoop microindenter. Information on mechanical behavior was obtained by observation of slip traces around indentations and by study of Knoop hardness anisotropy. Manganous selenide exhibits {111} and {110} as primary and secondary slip mechanisms, respectively, in contrast to the {110} mechanism preferred by MnS. In the system MnSe‐MnS, the primary slip mechanism changes gradually with composition. The {110} mechanism of MnS is much more sensitive to temperature than the {111} mechanism of MnSe, and a large solid solution hardening effect accompanies the substitution of sul‐fide for selenide ions.