Magnetostimulated Changes in the Microhardness of KDP Crystals with Embedded TiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

The dependence of the microhardness of KDP crystals with embedded TiO₂ nanoparticles on the time passed after their exposure to a dc magnetic field has been analyzed. Samples cut from different growth sectors are found to be differently affected by magnetic treatment. In the absence of TiO₂ impurity, the microhardness of the samples from the {100} growth sector decreases after the magnetic exposure, whereas the microhardness of the samples cut from the {101} growth sector changes in two stages (hardening after softening). With an increase in the TiO₂ concentration, the softening stage gradually disappears in the crystals from both growth sectors. In the KDP:TiO₂ crystals from the {100} sector, hardening (which was absent previously) occurs instead of softening. In the crystals from the {101} sector, the hardening arises after a shorter time.