Communications Materials (Apr 2022)
Shear band formation during nanoindentation of EuB6 rare-earth hexaboride
Abstract
Rare-earth hexaborides are of interest for their pressure-induced phase transformations, but further understanding is needed regarding their failure mechanisms. Here, nanoindentation of EuB6 causes dislocation-mediated shear band formation, driven by the breaking of boron-boron bonds.