Theoretical shear strength and the onset of plasticity in nanodeformation of cubic boron nitride

The nanoindentation in the continuous stiffness measurement mode was used to investigate the onset of plasticity at the nanodeformation of cubic boron nitride (cBN). This technique allows us to reveal an elastic-plastic transition in the contact and to measure the yield strength of cBN at the nanoscale. An abrupt elastoplastic transition (a pop-in) was observed in the (111) cBN single crystal as a result of a homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation of dislocations in the previously dislocations-free region under the contact. The analysis of the data obtained at the homogeneous nucleation of dislocations in the contact region made it possible to experimentally estimate the theoretical shear strength of cBN and its ideal (elastic) hardness. In a sample of the fine-grained cBN with a nanotwinned substructure a smooth elastoplastic transition was observed in consequence of the propagation and multiplication of already existing dislocations in the contact region.