Mechanical characteristics of soft-brittle HgCdTe single crystals investigated using nanoindentation and nanoscratching

► Both the shape and half included angle of the indenter tip affect the friction coefficient, as well as normally scratched depth. ► The hardness has an influence on the creeping event of MCT wafers. ► Size effect is observed for the nanohardness during nanoindentation, which is presented using indentation curvature.