Growth of MgNdB₅O₁₀ Crystals from High-Temperature Solutions of K₂B₄O₇ Flux

Abstract

It was found that MgNdB₅O₁₀ crystals were grown from high-temperature solutions of K₂B₄O₇ flux.
K₂B₄O₇ flux was chosen on the basis of the guide previously proposed by the authors. According to the solubility measured, about 183 g of MgNd135010 was dissolved i n 100 g of K₂B₄O₇ at 1273 K. Therefore, K₂B₄O₇ flux was expected to be suitable for the growth of objective crystals.
The growth was conducted by heating mixtures at 1273 K for 5 h followed by cooling to about 973 K at a rate of 4(or 2) K/h. MgNdB₅O₁₀ crystals up to 3.7 x 2.5 x 0.5 mm in size were grown. These crystals were thin (or thick) plate with well-developed {102} faces in shape, reddish purple in color and transparent. A density of the crystals, pycnometrically determined, was 4.08±0.03 g/cm₃. A melting point of the crystals, determined by DTA, was 1346±5K.