Indentation creep of superelastic hard carbon

Abstract

Abstract Instrumented indentation methods have been used to study the effect of the loading rate and holding time at different maximum loads on the indentation characteristics of superelastic hard carbon particles reinforcing metal matrix composite materials. The properties of the carbon particles prepared in fullerite-metal powder mixtures by high-pressure synthesis substantially differ as a function of synthesis parameters (P, T) and the initial fullerite characteristics (C60 in crystalline or amorphous state). The indentation creep C IT decreases with increasing F max (500-2000 mN) and increases with holding time (60-600 s). The harder carbon particles formed from amorphous fullerite are characterized by higher indentation creep CIT and deeper penetration at constant load. Such creep behavior correlates with different elastic recovery characteristics of the particles upon indentation.