Abstract

The positive drift at the end of nanoindentation P-h plot in case of hard titanium diboride (TiB2) films was ascribed to swelling taking place due to strain gradient plastic deformation with the sample contacting the indenter. The indentations performed at lower loads based on the positioning however suffered resistance towards any plastic deformation as per GTN theory. Although the formation of nanocrystallites inside larger grains were observed, indentation performed at grain boundaries or area having comparatively lower atomic density caused plastic deformation.