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 an d doped lead(II)chloride and lead(II)bromide are subjected to microhar dness studies. The validity of Kick's relation is checked. The value o f standard hardness number H-v and the work hardening coefficient n ar e 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 dopan ts is established and the results are discussed.