The effect of cristallographic orientation on damage in MgO due to spherical particle impact

A single stage gas gun has been used to fire spherical chrome steel and WC particles at variously oriented and prepared MgO single crystals at velocities of up to 350 m sec^–1. The resultant damage has been studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy, dislocation etching and surface profilometry, and mass losses have been determined gravimetrically. The measured crater dimensions and the mass loss data have been compared with the predictions of a simple analytical model of the impact event.