DAMAGE MECHANISMS AROUND HARDNESS INDENTATIONS IN TI3SIC2

Microstructural observations of damage around indentations in Ti3SiC2 are presented, The Vickers hardness decreased with increasing load and asymptotically approached 4 GPa at the highest loads, No indentation cracks were observed even at loads as high as 300 N. Preliminary stren gth versus indentation plots indicate that, at least for the large-gra ined material (approximate to 100 mu m) studied here, Ti3SiC2 is a dam age-tolerant material able to contain the extent of microdamage to a s mall area around the indent, The following multiple energy-absorbing m echanisms have been identified from scanning electron micrographs of a reas in the vicinity of the indentation: diffuse microcracking, delami nation, crack deflection, grain push-out, grain pull-out, and the buck ling of individual grains.