Nanoindentation Study of Intermetallic Phases in Al-Cu Bimetallic System

Nanoindentation hardness testing device was used to determine the mechanical properties of intermetallic phases in Al-Cu bimetallic system formed by thermal annealing the Al-Cu bimetallic coupon in air at 460degC. The nanoindenation tests were carried out at 200 mN load. The results of nanoindenation tests were found to be somewhat different from those obtained by the Knoop hardness test. Plausible explanations for the observed difference are discussed. Using the Oliver-Pharr method, the nanoindenation data were used to determine the elastic modulus of the intermetallic phases formed.