Chemical bond properties and hardness estimation of rare earth garnets

The chemical bond parameters and hardness values of rare earth garnet crystals had been calculated based on the P–V–L dielectric theory and other related theories. The correlation between bond length, unit cell parameters, ionicity, bond order and hardness of the garnets was established and discussed. The estimation hardness of YAG was in good agreement with the experimental one. The hardness values and chemical bond parameters of other garnets were also calculated.