Nanoindentation of Brittle Solids by Dey, Arjun; Mukhopadhyay, Anoop Kumar;

Short description:

Glass and ceramics are brittle in nature, but are often used in electronics, space, defense, biomedical, and many day-to-day applications, where mechanical disintegration may cause total failure of the application. Evaluation and in-depth knowledge of nanomechanical characterization helps to improve process parameters or may help identify the critical failure point. Therefore, it is important to measure mechanical properties such as hardness and Young’s modulus at the local microstructural length scale. This book presents a collection of recent research findings of nanoindentation issues in brittle materials.

Long description:

Understanding the Basics of Nanoindentation and Why It Is Important

Contact damage induced brittle fracture is a common problem in the field of brittle solids. In the case of both glass and ceramics—and as it relates to both natural and artificial bio-materials—it has triggered the need for improved fabrication technology and new product development in the industry.

Nanoindentation of Brittle Solids highlights the science and technology of nanoindentation related to brittle materials, and considers the applicability of the nanoindentation technique. This book provides a thorough understanding of basic contact induced deformation mechanisms, damage initiation, and growth mechanisms. Starting from the basics of contact mechanics and nanoindentation, it considers contact mechanics, addresses contact issues in brittle solids, and explores the concepts of hardness and elastic modulus of a material. It examines a variety of brittle solids and deciphers the physics of deformation and fracture at scale lengths compatible with the microstructural unit block.

• Discusses nanoindentation data analysis methods and various nanoindentation techniques


• Includes nanoindentation results from the authors’ recent research on natural biomaterials like tooth, bone, and fish scale materials


• Considers the nanoindentation response if contact is made too quickly in glass


• Explores energy issues related to the nanoindentation of glass


• Describes the nanoindentation response of a coarse grain alumina


• Examines nanoindentation on microplasma sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings

Nanoindentation of Brittle Solids provides a brief history of indentation, and explores the science and technology of nanoindentation related to brittle materials. It also offers an in-depth discussion of indentation size effect; the evolution of shear induced deformation during indentation and scratches, and includes a collection of related research works.

"This book is written in a very colloquial style and subdivided into many small sections each with a different group of authors… The emphasis is very much on the use of pointed indenters to investigate the micro and nano-mechanical properties of brittle materials. The strength of the book is the wide range of brittle materials that the book covers. It also provides the basis upon which the science of nano or instrumented indentation mechanics is based. … a convenient reference book for students and researchers in the area of brittle materials."
––Michael Swain, Biomaterials, The University of Sydney, Australia

"The book covers a wide range of topics and as such can attract a wide variety of the audience. … for insight of practical issues that are encountered when dealing with nanoindentation and brittle materials. It can also serve as a valuable source of references in the field."
––Jiri Nemecek, Czech Technical University in Prague

"… a simple but powerful resource for students, researchers and faculty who want to work in areas of emerging materials needs in fields of space, defense, biomedical, etc."
—Dr. Satyam Priyadarshy, ReIgnite Strategy / Georgetown University

Table of Contents:

Section 1 Contact Mechanics. Contact Issues in Brittle Solids. Mechanics of Elastic and Elastoplastic Contacts. Section 2 Journey Towards Nanoindentation. Brief History of Indentation. Hardness and Elastic Modulus. Nanoindentation: Why at All and Where?. Nanoindentation Data Analysis Methods. Nanoindentation Techniques. Instrumental Details. Materials and Measurement Issues. Section 3 Static Contact Behavior of Glass. What If the Contact is Too Quick in Glass?. Enhancement in Nanohardness of Glass: Possible?. Energy Issues in Nanoindentation. Section 4 Dynamic Contact Behavior of Glass. Dynamic Contact Damage in Glass. Does the Speed of Dynamic Contact Matter?. Nanoindentation Inside the Scratch: What Happens?. Section 5 Static Contact Behavior of Ceramics. Nanomechanical Properties of Ceramics. Does the Contact Rate Matter for Ceramics?. Nanoscale Contact in Ceramics. Section 6 Static Behavior of Shock-Deformed Ceramics. Shock Deformation of Ceramics. Nanohardness of Alumina. Interaction of Defects with Nanoindents in Shocked Ceramics. Effect of Shock Pressure on ISE: A Comparative Study. Section 7 Nanoindentation Behavior of Ceramic-Based Composites. Nano/Micromechanical Properties of C/C and C/C-SiC Composites. Nanoindentation on Multilayered Ceramic Matrix Composites. Nanoindentation of Hydroxyapatite-Based Biocomposites. Section 8 Nanoindentation Behavior of Functional Ceramics. Nanoindentation of Silicon. Nanomechanical Behavior of ZTA. Nanoindentation Behavior of Actuator Ceramics. Nanoindentation of Magnetoelectric Multiferroic Material. Nanoindentation Behavior of Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. Nanoindentation Behavior of High-Temperature Glass–Ceramic Sealants for Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. Section 9 Static Contact Behavior of Ceramic Coatings. Nanoindentation on HAp Coating. Weibull Modulus of Ceramic Coating. Anisotropy in Nanohardness of Ceramic Coating. Fracture Toughness of Ceramic Coating Measured by Nanoindentation. Effect of SBF Environment on Nanomechanical and Tribological Properties of Bioceramic Coating. Nanomechanical Behavior of Ceramic Coatings Developed by Micro Arc Oxidation. Section 10 Static Contact Behavior of Ceramic Thin Films. Nanoindentation Behavior of Soft Ceramic Thin Films: Mg(OH)₂. Nanoindentation Study on Hard Ceramic Thin Films: TiN. Nanoindentation Study on Sputtered Alumina Films for Spacecraft Application. Nanomechanical Behavior of Metal-Doped DLC Thin Films. Section 11 Nanoindentation Behavior on Ceramic-Based Natural Hybrid Nanocomposites. Orientational Effect in Nanohardness of Tooth Enamel. Slow or Fast Contact: Does it Matter for Enamel?. Anisotropy of Modulus in Cortical Bone. Nanoindentation of Fish Scale. Section 12 Some Unresolved Issues in Nanoindentation. Indentation Size Effect (ISE) and Reverse Indentation Size Effect (RISE) in Nanoindentation. Pop-in Issues in Nanoindentation. Effect of Loading Rate on Nanoindentation Response of Brittle Solids. Measurement of Residual Stress by Nanoindentation Technique. Reliability Issues in Nanoindentation Measurements. Substrate Effect in ThinFilm Measurements. Future Scope of Novel Nanoindentation Technique. Conclusions. Common Abbreviations. Index.