Micro-indentation creep of porous nanocrystalline metallic and composite compacts

Experimental observations concerning the time dependent variation in the room temperature microhardness of porous compacts of nanocrystalline Palladium are presented. These data and the earlier findings on the elevated temperature response of compacts of nanocrystalline composites Fe-63 vol% TiN and Ni-58 vol% TiN are interpreted as due to power law creep. The equations developed are validated using the experimental results. C 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.