Abstract
The nanohardness is from 1.44 to 2.61 GPa, the Vickers hardness is from 127 to 252 Vickers, and elastic modulus is from 52 to 123 GPa by the nanoindentation experiments on the doubler plane of KDP crystal. An indentation size effect is observed on the doubler plane in the test as the nanohardness and elastic modulus decreases with the increase of the maximum load. Slippage is identified as the major mode of plastic deformation, and pop-in events are attributed to the initiation of slippage. And the variation of unloading curve end is the result of stick effects between the indenter and the contact surface. The depth of the elastic deformation, which is between 40 and 75 nm, is responsible for the elastic deformation. The doubler plane of KDP crystal has anisotropy, and the relative anisotropy of nanohardness is 8.2% and the relative anisotropy of elastic modulus is 8.0%.