Sharp indentation behavior of carbon/carbon composites and varieties of carbon Original Research Article

Sharp indentation tests on carbon fiber and carbon matrix composites (C/C composite) were carried out over a wide load range from 0 to 2 N on three different cross sections: normal, parallel and inclined to the fiber axis. For comparison purposes, a variety of carbons including HOPG, glassy C, and pyrocarbon films was also examined. Both the fibers and the matrices displayed first a purely elastic response and second crack-induced damage. A purely elastic behavior was also observed with most of the varieties of carbon considered. Young’s modulus was extracted from the indentation curves either at maximum or at various forces, using the Sneddon equation of elastic response on loading (elastic indentation) or a classical equation based on elastic recovery on unloading (elastoplastic indentation). Results are discussed with respect to features of structure and heterogeneity of material in the stressed volume.