COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY STUDY OF INDENTATIONS IN QUASI-CRYSTALLINE ALPDMN AND SINGLE-CRYSTALLINE NIAL INVESTIGATED BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize surface modific ations that developed from Vickers indentations into single-crystallin e NiAl(100) and single-quasicrystalline AlPdMn (surface of fivefold sy mmetry). Indenter rotation was used to track the competition between c rystal and indenter anisotropy. Distinct differences between the two m odel substances were found with respect to the lateral extension of th e indentation-induced deformation zone, to crack formation, size, shap e and radial extension of created structures, and volume balance betwe en the impression and piled-up elevations. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & So ns, Ltd.