Study of the low stress plasticity in single-crystal MgO by nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy

摘要

Berkovich nanoindentations have been performed atambient temperature with a new apparatus on (001) cleavedsurfaces of single-crystal Magnesium Oxide (MgO). Rosette sliplines pattern has been observed at a nanometric scale by AtomicForce Microscope. Moreover, the load-displacement curvespresent particular features such as pop-in, whihc has been linked tothe AFM surface topography observations. Finally, we show thatthe combination of a new nanoindentation apparatus and anAtomic Force Microscope allows to study the very early stages ofthe plastic deformation during a nanoindentation in terms ofindividual dislocations.