The physical and mechanical properties and local deformation micromechanisms in materials with different dependence of hardness on the depth of print

The size hardness effects are studied via the micro- and nanoindentation methods over the wide range of the depth of print $h$ (from dozens of nanometers to several dozen micrometers) for several classes of materials, such as ionic and covalent single crystals (sapphire, silicon, lithium fluoride); metals (single-crystal Al, polycrystalline Cu, Ni, and Nb); ceramics (high-strength nanostructured TZP-ceramic based on the natural zirconium dioxide–baddeleyite mineral); amorphous materials (fused quartz); and polymers (polycarbonate and polytetrafluoroethylene). As is shown, some of them possess severe size hardness effects, whereas the others reveal the weak ones or even a lack of these effects. The thermoactivation analysis is implemented, as well, and the activating and energy characteristics of local deformation processes induced by an indenter are compared with the dominant plasticity micromechanisms of the studied materials at different stages of the print formation and with the size peculiarities. The materials with low hardness coefficients and meeting the requirements of ISО 14577 and GOST R 8.748-2011 standards in the nanohardness measurements are highlighted, as well. In the established load ranges, these materials are the promising candidates for their use as reference samples, which are designed to ensure the uniformity of the hardness measurements at the nano- and microscales, as well as for calibrating and testing the nanoindentometers.