DEPTH-SENSING INDENTATION MEASUREMENTS WITH VICKERS AND BERKOVICH INDENTERS

Depth-sensing indentation measurements are performed with two differen t Vickers indenters and one Berkovich indenter. The sample materials w ere mirror polished Ag, Al, Au, Ni, and Ti samples. From the load-inde ntation depth data, the conventional hardness plots as well as the fir st derivative are calculated. The latter procedure yields a specific v olume related density of deformation energy in the probed material. Th at specific energy density is shown to be a constant material paramete r for extended indentation depths and for different Vickers indenters. Vickers and Berkovch indenters delivered within the error margin the same results.