Nanomechanics of a high H/E carbonaceous material

Conventional analysis of nanoindentation data considers only the unloading curve, but this may be misleading for materials that are very elastic. An alternative method that considers the loading and unloading curve may be more appropriate. Results for a carbonaceous material with a high hardness (or yield stress) relative to its elastic modulus are presented. An analysis considering the whole nanoindentation cycle gives a ratio of H/E that is significantly higher than that obtained from just the loading or unloading curve.