Part VI – June 1968 - Papers - Effects of Static Compressive Loading on the Internal Friction of LiF

The internal friction of single-crystal LiF has been investigated as a function of crystal orientation, while simultaneously applying a static compressive load. Three different crystal orientations were used, these being samples with the (100), (110), and (111) directions along the sample length. Results show the internal friction measured to be similar in appearance but different in magnitude for the (100) and (110) samples. With both orientations, application of a static stress caused an increase in the amplitude-independent damping, which recovered with time. The amplitude-dependent damping was found to first decrease with load up to the yield stress and then increase rapidly. Samples of the (111) orientation were found to have no measurable internal friction even when loaded up to 3.0 kg per sq mm. These results are discussed in terms of current theories of internal friction in ionic crystals. This paper presents the results of an investigation of the dislocation mobility and dislocation motion in high-purity single-crystal LiF at applied stress levels up to the yield stress. Internal friction measurements of the dislocation damping while simultaneously applying a static compressive load was the experimental technique used. LiF crystals much prefer to slip on the (110) set of slip planes. However, with a suitable stress distribution they can be forced to slip on the {100} set of slip planes.' For both sets of slip planes the slip direction is the same, namely (110). The object of this investigation was to try and learn more about the dynamical properties of dislocations on the different slip systems in LiF crystals. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Dislocation damping was measured, in terms of the log decrement, using a five-component marx2 composite piezoelectric oscillator. The apparatus used allows one to measure the dislocation damping while simultaneously applying a static compressive load on the sample. A schematic of the apparatus used is shown in Fig. 1 and a complete discussion of its construction and operation is given elsewhere.3 All measurements were made at room temperature with a longitudinal resonant frequency of approximately 50 kc per sec. Damping measurements were made using longitudinal vibrations with strain amplitudes from up to 10. Static loads up to 3.0 kg per sq mm were applied to the sample while the damping was being measured. Samples used in this investigation were high-purity single crystals of LiF purchased from the Harshaw Chemical Co. All samples were approximately of an in. square and were hand-ground in length to one-half wavelength to match the resonant frequency of the driver and gage quartz crystals. Samples of three different crystallographic orientations were used, namely, crystals with the (loo), (110), and (111) direction parallel to their length. The magnitude of the damping is a direct measure of the area on the slip planes swept out by dislocations during a complete oscillatory cycle. With a sample of the (100) orientation the maximum applied shear stress, due to longitudinal vibrations, is on the (110) slip planes with zero shear stress on the (100) slip planes. Thus, damping measured from a (100) sample is due entirely to dislocation motion taking place on the (110) set of slip planes. Similarly, for a sample of the (111) orientation there is zero shear stress on the (110) set of slip planes and the damping measured from a sample of this orientation is due entirely to dislocation motion on the (100) set of slip planes. Samples of the (110) orientation will have a component of shear stress on both sets of slip planes and