The r e s u l t s o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n d i c a t e t h a t BN f i l m s on n o n m e t a l l i c s u b s t r a t e s , l i k e metal f i l m s on m e t a l l i c s u b s t r a t e s , deform e l a s t i c a l l y and C I 2 m I p l a s t i c a l l y i n t h e i n t e r f a c i a l r e g i o n when i n c o n t a c t w i t h a diamond p i n .
However, u n l i k e metal f i l m s and s u b s t r a t e s , BN f i l m s on n o n m e t a l l i c s u b s t r a t e s can f r a c t u r e when t h e y a r e c r i t i c a l l y loaded. Not o n l y does t h e y i e l d p r e s s u r e (hardness) o f S i and S l o p s u b s t r a t e s i n c r e a s e by a f a c t o r o f 2 i n t h e presenceo f a BN f i l m , b u t t h e c r i t i c a l l o a d needed t o f r a c t u r e i n c r e a s e s as w e l l . The presence o f f i l m s on t h e b r i t t l e s u b s t r a t e s can a r r e s t c r a c k f o r m a t i o n . The BN f i l m reduces adhesion and f r i c t i o n i n t h e s l i d i n g c o n t a c t . BN adheres t o *Trade names o r m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' names a r e used i n t h i s r e p o r t f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o n l y . T h i s usage does n o t c o n s t i t u t e an o f f i c i a l endorsement, e i t h e r expressed o r i m p l i e d , by t h e N a t i o n a l Aeronautics and Space A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .