Examination of the indentation size effect in low-load Vickers hardness testing of ceramics

The indentation size effect (ISE) in Vickers hardness for several ceramic materials was observed in a relatively wider range of applied test lend. It was shown that the proportional specimen resistance (PSR) model proposed by Li and Bradt is insufficient for describing the experimental data. By considering the effect of the machining-induced plastically deformed surface on the hardness measurements, the PSR model was modified and the empirical equation proposed originally by Buckle was proven to be more suitable for correlating the measured indentation dimension to the applied rest fond. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.