Nanoindentation-based analysis of elasticity and hardness in lithium aluminoborate glass

Lithium aluminoborate glass with different Li-to-(B+Al) ratios is investigated for mass density, Young’s modulus as well as indentation modulus and indentation hardness. The Young’s modulus is calculated based on the chemical composition and the experimental mass density. Both, density and modulus increase with network modifier (Li 2 O) content. Nanoindentation experiments show that indentation modulus and indentation hardness decline with decreasing Li-to-(B+Al) ratio. Furthermore, modulus and hardness decline significantly from the center to the edge of the sample due to slight compositional variations within the sample. These variations are probably caused by the inhomogeneous cooling during the glass-making process.