Slip line analysis around nanoindentation imprints in Ti3SnC2: a new insight into plasticity of MAX-phase materials

The plasticity of Ti3SnC2, a recently synthesized MAX phase, was investigated. Localized deformation was induced by nanoindentation in a polycrystalline sample, and the resulting surface topography was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). For several grains, buckling around the indent was observed, in agreement with the kink band deformation process often reported for MAX-phase materials. For other grains, slip lines have been revealed by AFM. The corresponding slip systems have been identified through the determination of the local crystalline orientation by electron backscatter diffraction. First- and second-order pyramidal slip systems are shown to be active for some grain orientations, as well as dislocation interactions and cross slip from one system to the other.