Experimental Analysis of the Elastic-Plastic Transition During Nanoindentation of Single Crystal Alpha-Silicon Nitride

Abstract

The elastic-to-plastic transition in single crystal a-siliconnitride was experimentally characterized through a series ofnanoindentation experiments using a spherical indenter. Theexperimental results provide a quantitative description of thecritical shear strengths for the transition, as well as estimatesof the shear modulus and nanohardness of the material.