Analysis of the nanoindentation load-displacement curves measured on high-purity fine-grained alumina

This paper conducted a preliminary examination on the effect of microstructural inhomogeneity on the reproducibility of the nanoindentation data. Nanoindentation tests were conducted on a high-purity, fine-grained alumina ceramic. It was found that the reproducibility of the nanoindentation data were somewhat poor. The nanoindentation data were then analyzed with the widely employed Oliver-Pharr method to yield the hardness, H, and the Young's modulus, E. Large scatters were observed in the resultant H and E. These experimental findings revealed that microstructural inhomogeneity may play an important role in the material response to nanoindentation.