Role of carbon nanotubes on load dependent micro hardness of SWCNT–lead silicate glass composite

Single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were successfully entrapped in lead silicate glass by the melt quench technique. Variation of micro hardness with load for lead silicate glass and the composites (having different wt% of SWCNTs) show Reverse Indentation Size Effect (RISE). Meyer's law, the proportional specimen resistance (PSR) model and the modified PSR model have been analyzed for the load dependent hardness of the glass and the composites. Incremented elastic recovery in the composites than that of the glass was explained by the appealing cushioning performance of entangled SWCNT bundles. In contrast, higher plastic deformation beneath the indenter in the composites was established by evaluating the recovery resistance of the materials.