Quartz resonator sensors in extreme environments

The authors present data on the tensile failure of quartz obtained from testing miniature force sensors of the double-ended tuning fork configuration. Dauphine twinning threshold data for temperatures ranging from room temperature to 175°C are presented. The experimental twinning results are supported by calculations of the Gibbs free energy difference between the two twin states. Additional calculations of the Gibbs free energy difference are presented for the SC-cut for comparison to the AT-cut and the X-cut used in published twinning studies. Both uniaxial stress conditions and biaxial stress patterns are included in the theoretical results to quantitatively compare the present experimental situation to earlier work. The fact that the present biaxial stress study is consistent with earlier uniaxial results confirms the use of the free energy difference as a theoretical tool to predict twinning thresholds in complicated stress pattern situations