Nanostructured crystals of Sr1−x R x F2+x fluorite phases and their ordering: 6. Microindentation analysis of crystals

Hardness, crack resistance, brittleness, and effective fracture energy have been studied for crystals of 24 fluorite phases Sr1 − x R x F2 + x (R are 14 rare earth elements (REEs); 0 < x ≤ 0.5) and SrF2 grown by the Bridgman method from a melt. These characteristics change nonlinearly with an increase in the REE content for Sr1 − x R x F2 + x (0 < x ≤ 0.5) with R = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, and Lu; it is maximum in the range x < 0.1 for all REEs. The changes in a number of REEs have been traced for an isoconcentration series of Sr0.90 R 0.10F2.10 crystals (R = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho, Er-Lu, or Y) and crystals (similar in composition) with R = Tb and Dy. The hardness of Sr1 − x R x F2 + x crystals is higher by a factor of ∼2–3 than that of SrF2. The effect of decrease in microstresses in SrF2 crystals is confirmed by the isomorphic introduction of R 3+ ions into this crystalline matrix.