Nanoscale anisotropic plastic deformation in single crystal aragonite

The nanoscale anisotropic elastic-plastic behavior of single-crystal aragonite is studied using nanoindentation and tapping mode atomic force microscopy imaging. Force-depth curves coaxial to the c axis exhibited load plateaus indicative of dislocation nucleation events. Plasticity on distinct slip systems was evident in residual topographic impressions where four pileup lobes were present after indentation with a conospherical probe and distinct, protruding slip bands were present after indentation with a Berkovich pyramidal probe. A finite element crystal plasticity model revealed the governing roles of the {110}< 001 > slip system family, as well as the (100)[010], (100)[001], (010)[100], (010)[001], (001)[100], and (001)[010] systems.