Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the present work is to investigate a mechanical properties of composites based on polymer matrix and superionic compounds (Cu_1−xAg_x)₇GeSe₅I, to perform a comparative analysis with similar properties of a single crystals and to study changes of structural rigidity, which depend on concetration ratio of polymer and microcrystalline components.
Methods. The сomposites were prepared by pressing a mixture of micropowder and polymer. Investigations of their mechanical properties were performed using microindentation test. An indentation was performed by Vickers indenter. For imprints analysis interferential microscope MII–4 was used.
Results. The dependence of microhardness versus concetration ratio of micropowder and polymer has been analyzed. The relative contributions of elastic and plastic deformation components for Cu₇GeSe₅I single crystal, composite based on it, and ethylyne-vinyl acetate polymer have been calculated and compared. The decreasing of composites’ microhardness at Cu⁺→Ag⁺ isovalent cation substitution has been revealed.
Conclusions. The microhardness numerical values of composites based on polymer and superionic micropowder were calculated. It has been founded, that at concentration of microcrystals increase up to 90 wt.%, the mechanical rigidity crossover ”soft-rigid structure” is observed. It has been shown, that with different component concentration the deformation mechanism changes: elastic in polymer, plastic in composites and elasto-plastic in superionic crystals. The microhardness of composites at Cu⁺→Ag⁺ cation substitution, decreases

Keywords: composites, mixed crystals, microhardness

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