Mechanical Properties of СeF3 Single Crystals

Abstract

The anisotropy of the mechanical characteristics of CeF₃ crystals (sp. gr. \(P\bar {3}c1\)) grown from the melt by the Bridgman technique has been studied for the first time. The variability of Young’s modulus, the shear modulus, and the Poisson’s ratio has been analyzed and the Vickers microhardness H_V of the (0001) and \((10\bar {1}0)\) crystal planes at room temperature has been determined (2.9 and 2.3 GPa, respectively, under a load of P = 60 g). The \({{\{ 11\bar {2}0\} }}\) primary cleavage surfaces (slip planes) and the \({\text{\{ }}10\bar {1}0{\text{\} }}\) and {0001} secondary cleavage planes for the CеF₃ crystals have been established. A correlation between the shape of Vickers indentations and the Young’s modulus anisotropy have been observed.