Mechanical properties of superionic ceramics based on (Cu1–xAgx)7GeSe5I solid solutions

Abstract

(Cu1–xAgx)7GeSe5I-based ceramics were prepared by pressing and sintering from the micro- and nanopowders. The ceramic samples were investigated using microstructural analysis. The microhardness was measured applying the indentation method with use of the Vickers pyramid. It has been shown that the microhardness of (Cu1–xAgx)7GeSe5I-based ceramics decreases with copper content decrease at Cu+→Ag+cationic substitution. The compositional dependences and size effects of microhardness inherent to (Cu1–xAgx)7GeSe5I-based ceramics have been analyzed. The size effects of microindentation have been interpreted within the framework of the gradient theory of plasticity.