Non-Hydrostatic Pressure Induced Structural Phase Transitions of Silicon Analyzed by Raman Scattering

In this work a study on the structural phase transitions of silicon undergone by two different methods were performed. The samples were submitted to high non-hydrostatic pressure applied by cyclic Vickers indentations and by the tool tip during the single point diamond turning. The indentations were performed on virgin surface (polished as received) and on an amorphous surface generated either by the machining process or RF sputtering. The analysis on the machined surface, debris on the diamond tool and around of imprints were also performed using Raman micro spectroscopy. The results indicated the formation of some phases may depend upon the initial structural state of the surface, i.e., amorphous or crystalline.