TITLE:
Nanoindentation Study on Tourmaline
AUTHORS:
M.O. Adeoye, O.O. Adewoye
KEYWORDS:
Tourmaline; Minerals; Mechanical properties; Hardness testing;Nanoindentation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.5 No.1,
June
12,
2006
ABSTRACT: Nanoindentation tests were performed on the basal (0001) and prismatic (10ī0) surfaces
of tourmaline crystals. These results were used along with Vickers microhardness tests to
investigate the hardness of the material on these surfaces at different load regimes. It was
found that the (0001) surface indicated a higher hardness at ultra-low loads while (10ī0)
becomes the harder plane at higher loads. Evidence of plastic deformation at room
temperature in the otherwise very brittle (ceramic) material was also established, and the
elastic modulus was determined.