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In view of discrepancies in the available information on the hardness of lithium niobate, a systematic study of the hardness has been carried out. Measurements have been made on two pure lithium niobate crystals with different growth origins, and a Fe-doped sample. The problem of load variation of hardness is examined in detail. The true hardness of LiNbO 3 is found to be 630 ± 30 kg/mm 2. The Fe-doped crystal has a larger hardness of 750 ± 50 kg/mm 2 .

Microhardness measurements were undertaken on twelve rare earth garnet crystals. In yttrium aluminium garnet and gadolinium gallium garnet, there was no measurable difference in the hardness values of pure and nominally Nd-doped crystals. The hardness values were correlated with the lattice and elastic constants. An analysis of hardness data in terms of the interatomic binding indicated a high degree of covalency.

Single crystals of sodium bromate are grown at various supersaturations ranging from 3% to 8%. Surface studies have been carried out on as-grown and etched (111) faces of these crystals. Typical and systematically oriented growth hillocks are observed almost on all the faces. Further dislocation studies are made to understand the growth history of these crystals. These studies suggest that the crystals grow by 2D-growth mechanism. In addition to this, studies are also conducted on the formation of overgrowths and inclusions in these crystals.

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