Etch pit study of different crystallographic faces of L-arginine hydrobromide monohydrate (LAHBr) in some organic acids

Etching characteristics of (1 0 0), (0 1 0), (0 0 1), and (1 1 0) surfaces of an important nonlinear crystal 'L-arginine hydrobromide monohydrate' etched in organic acids have been investigated. Ht has been found that FeCl3 added to propionic acid reduces the tangential etch rate of (1 0 0) and (0 0 1) surfaces. Fast etchants could produce etch pits only on 'F' faces, i.e. (1 0 0), (0 0 1), and (1 1 0) but they have no effect on 'S' face, i.e. (0 1 0). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.