Ammonium fluoride NH4F and antimony trifluoride SbF3 form many stoichi
ometric compounds, such as NH4SbF4, (NH4)2SbF5, NH4Sb2F7, (NH4)3Sb2F9,
NH4Sb3F10, etc. Since (NH4)2SbF5 exhibits superionic conductivity and
undergoes phase transitions, an attempt has been made to grow other s
toichiometric compounds of this group. In this report, we deal with th
e growth and microhardness studies of NH4Sb3F10, single crystals. Crys
tals of size 60 x 25 x 35 mm3 were grown in a period of two months. Mi
crohardness studies have been carried out using a Vickers diamond pyra
mid indenter. To study the anisotropy of this material, specimens cut
in different orientations such as (001), (010), (100), (101), (101BAR)
have been subjected to microhardness studies. The results show strong
anisotropy in the work-hardening coefficient for different orientatio
ns. This anisotropy is explained on the basis of a plastic deformation
model.