Pressure Dependence of the Plastic Flow Stress of Alkali Halide Single Crystals

Abstract
The change in the plastic yield stress of alkali halide single crystals due to applied hydrostatic pressure has been measured. The pressure dependence of the yield stress (δσ/σ) ranges from ∼9×10−2/kbar in soft RbI to ∼0 in LiF. The experimental results suggest that in soft crystals point‐defect generation and/or diffusion is effective in limiting dislocation mobility in the early stages of deformation, whereas in crystals hardened by irradiation or cold work, elastic interactions are rate limiting.