Nanoindentation Tip mechanics ascribing bluntness during fracture of thin coatings

Abstract

Nanoindentation is used for the determination of mechanical properties of thin-coatings comprising a mixture of hard phases. The load-depth plots represent minor fracture (energy ~ pJ) taken place due to assorted crystallization on the surface. The tip movement during the fracture is influenced by strain hardening due to brittle to ductile transformation and the amount of tipbluntness as evident from the fractorial normal stiffness.