Abstract
It is suggested that the hardness of many solids may approach a minimum value which the material can attain through glide processes. This occurs when the effective yield stress of the material is very low or the dislocation glide mobility very high. The minimum value of the hardness is a result of the work-hardening characteristics of the indented material. For many materials, such as f c c metals, NaCl-type alkali halides or diamond cubic solids, the minimum hardness may be calculated by use of a simple model and its magnitude is shown to agree well with that expected from the rate of second stage work-hardening in these solids.
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Gerk, A.P. The effect of work-hardening upon the hardness of solids: minimum hardness. J Mater Sci 12, 735–738 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548163
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548163