ON THE FORMATION OF DISLOCATION ETCH PITS ON L-ARGININE PHOSPHATE MONOHYDRATE SINGLE-CRYSTALS

The results of the etching behaviour of different faces of L-arginine phosphate monohydrate (LAP) crystals in distilled water, methanol and ethanol are described. It was found that all the three solvents produc e dislocation etch pits on different faces of LAP crystals, and that t he capability of revelation of etch pits by a solvent on different fac es depends on their crystallographic orientation. The observations are interpreted from the standpoint of Cabrera's thermodynamic theory of dislocation etch-pit formation.