Study on microstructure and nanoindentation of antibacterial bone China film

Fracture surface and surface of two kind of films of antibacterial bone china with 3% and 5% composite phosphate containing rare earth were characterized by SEM and nanoindenter, respectively, and the hardness and elastic modulus were measured by nanoindenter at different load conditions. The results show that hardness and elastic modulus of the two kinds of films have obvious change. Elastic modulus versus maximal depth of indentation curves are almost linear. Hardness versus maximal depth of indentation of film with 5% rare earth content curve is nearly linear, while that of 3 % increases at first, then decreases. Obvious pile-up of indentation impression of ceramic film with 3% rare earth content is observed with h(f)/h(max) < 0.7 and different loads, however indentation impression of 5 % has no this kind of phenomenon. Special properties of two kinds of ceramic films are because that films are the mixture of crystal and non-crystal materials.