Both pressureless-sintered and dense, fine-grained silicon nitride ceramics were produced from mechanochemically activated nitride-based precursors. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmition Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and an ultra-low load microhardness tester were used to characterize these ceramics. Depth-sensing indentation (DSI) tests in the range of 200-1800 mN were performed on the silicon nitride ceramic to determine dynamic hardness (H_d) and reduced elastic modulus (E_r) values. These values were deduced by analyzing the unloading segments of the DSI curves. It was found that both H_d and E_r exhibits a significant indentation load dependence. Nix-Gao (NG) model was used to analyze the dynamic hardness data in the calculation of the load independent hardness value.
In this paper, analysis and interpretation of mechanical property measurements of β-SiAlON ceramic were reported. Indentation microhardness of β-SiAlON ceramic was measured using the Knoop and Vickers indenters. The analysis of the Vickers indentation microhardness data reveals the reverse indentation size effect that is the apparent microhardness increases with increasing applied indentation test load. However, the Knoop indentation microhardness data exhibit indentation size effect that is the apparent microhardness increases with decreasing applied test load. The experimental Knoop microhardness data was analyzed using Meyer's law, elastic-plastic deformation model, proportional specimen resistance model, and Hays-Kendall's model. As a result, modified proportional specimen resistance model is found to be the most effective one for the load-independent (H_{LI}) microhardness determination of the SiAlON ceramic. It was seen that different models used to analyze the data obtained from the Vickers indentation do not give the same intrinsic hardness value. We also present the calculation of the Young modulus, E, of the β-SiAlON ceramic.
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