Abstract
Instrumented indentation tests were carried out on alumina ceramics and single crystals, with Berkovic, Vickers and Knoop indenters. The energy consumption for making indents was discussed. From the geometrical reason, it was expected the energy consumption was similar on the tests with Vickers and Berkovic, but the energy consumption was larger on Vickers indenter. We could see test force dependence of the energy consumption, and it may be related to the test conditions. The results were analyzed with the method by Oliver and Pharr. The calculated hardness and elastic constants show test force dependence. The hardness has systematic tendency. The calculated hardness in the test force of 1N was twice larger than the Vickers hardness. However, we could not see some systematic tendency on the calculated elastic constants. The difference of the experimental data and the parabolic rule on loading curve was also discussed.
