Fracture mechanics, crack propagation and microhardness studies on flux grown ErAlO3 single crystals

Results on fracture mechanics and crack propagation have been obtained, mak ing use of Vickers microhardness studies on two different crystallographic planes [(110) and (001)] of flux grown erbium aluminate crystals in the loa d ranging from 10 similar to 100 g. The variation of microhardness with loa d which is best explained by Hays and Kendall's law leads to the load indep endent values of hardness. Classification of cracks is dealt with and it is reported that the transition from Palmqvist to median types of cracks occu rs at higher loads. The values of fracture toughness (K-C), and brittleness index (B-i) are calculated using median types of cracks.