MICROHARDNESS STUDIES OF PURE AND DOPED CRYSTALS OF LEAD(II)CHLORIDE AND LEAD(II)BROMIDE

Single crystals of pure and monovalent metallic ion doped (K+, Na+, Cu+, Ag+, and Hg+) lead(II)chloride and lead(II)bromide were grown using silica gel. The growth experiments have been carried out by employing a modified two-stage chemical reaction. The grown crystals of pure and doped lead(II)chloride and lead(II)bromide are subjected to microhardness studies. The validity of Kick's relation is checked. The value of standard hardness number H-v and the work hardening coefficient n are found out. The influence of the presence of the added dopant on the microhardness behaviour of the crystal is studied. A possible relation between the hardness value H-v and the ionic radii of the added dopants is established and the results are discussed.