Dislocation-based deformation in crystalline solids is almost always plastic. Here we show that polycrystalline samples of Ti3SiC2 loaded cyclically at room temperature, in compression, to stresses up to 1 GPa, fully recover on the removal of the load, while dissipating about 25% (0.7 MJ x m(-3)) of the mechanical energy. The stress-strain curves outline fully reversible, rate-independent, closed hysteresis loops that are strongly influenced by grain size, with the energy dissipated being significantly larger in the coarse-grained material. At temperatures greater than 1,000 degrees C, the loops are open, the response is strain-rate dependent, and cyclic hardening is observed. This hitherto unreported phenomenon is attributed to the reversible formation and annihilation of incipient kink bands at room-temperature deformation. At higher temperatures, the incipient kink bands dissociate and coalesce to form regular irreversible kink bands. The loss factor for Ti3SiC2 is higher than most woods, and comparable to polypropylene and nylon. The technological implications of having a stiff, lightweight machinable ceramic that can dissipate up to 25% of the mechanical energy per cycle are discussed.

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The physical mechanism responsible for nonlinear elastic, hysteretic, and discrete memory response of nonlinear mesoscopic elastic solids has to date not been identified. We show, by nanoindenting mica single crystals, that this response is most likely due to the formation of dissipative and fully reversible, dislocation-based kink bands. We further claim that solids with high c/a ratios, which per force are plastically anisotropic, should deform by kinking, provided they do not twin. These kinking nonlinear elastic solids include layered ternary carbides, nitrides, oxides, and semiconductors, graphite, and the layered phases, such as mica, present in nonlinear mesoscopic elastic solids.

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We report for the first time on load versus depth-of-indentation response of Ti3SiC2 surfaces loaded with a 13.5 μm spherical tipped diamond indenter up to loads of 500 mN. Using orientation imaging microscopy, two groups of crystals were identified; one in which the basal planes were parallel to, and the other normal to, the surface. When the load-penetration depth curves were converted to stress-strain curves the following was apparent: when the surfaces were loaded normal to the c axis, the response at the lowest loads was linear elastic—well described by a modulus of 320 GPa—followed by a clear yield point at approximately 4.5 GPa. And while the first cycle was slightly open, the next 4 on the same location were significantly harder, almost indistinguishable, and fully reversible. At the highest loads (500 mN) pop-ins due to delaminations between basal planes were observed. When pop-ins were not observed the indentations, for the most part, left no trace. When the load was applied parallel to the c axis, the initial response was again linear elastic (modulus of 320 GPa) followed by a yield point of approximately 4 GPa. Here again significant hardening was observed between the first and subsequent cycles. Each cycle resulted in some strain, but no concomitant increase in yield points. This orientation was even more damage tolerant than the orthogonal direction. This response was attributed to the formation of incipient kink bands that lead to the formation of regular kink bands. Remarkably, these dislocation-based mechanisms allow repeated loading of Ti3SiC2 without damage, while dissipating significant amounts of energy per unit volume, Wd, during each cycle. The values of Wd measured herein were in excellent agreement with corresponding measurements in simple compression tests reported earlier, confirming that the same mechanisms continue to operate even at the high (≈9 GPa) stress levels typical of the indentation experiments.