This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Crystal Indentation Hardness" that was published in Crystals

"The International Conference on Heterogeneous Material Mechanics (ICHMM) in Huangshan, China, June 3-8, 2008 follows the successful inaugural ICHMM held in ChongQing, China in June, 2004. The ICHMM series is the first international forum that focuses exclusively on various issues related to the behavior of heterogeneous materials in a broad sense. The object of the ICHMM is to present and publicize integrated scientific and engineering approaches to the measurement and modeling of phenomena at the interface of materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, and solid mechanics."--Preface, p. xxxix.

High Temperature Oxides, Magnesia, Alumina, Beryllia Ceramics: Fabrication, Characterization and Properties is the third part of a series of four books on high temperature oxides. This text is divided into five chapters that deal with the research and technical advances in selected refractory oxides, such as magnesia, alumina, and beryllium oxide. Chapter 1 discusses the preparation, characterization, thermal and mechanical properties, and application to the electrical and electronic fields of beryllium oxide. Chapter 2 examines the mechanical behavior of single crystals of magnesia, including its dislocation motion and interactions, and crack nucleation and growth. Chapter 3 describes the significance of diffusive and mechanical properties of sintered alumina and magnesia. Chapter 4 deals with the process mechanisms, control, and limitations of hot-pressing, with particular emphasis on the practical applications of hot-pressed refractory oxides. Chapter 5 explores the possible benefits of hot-working, operational processes involved in such working, and the applications of fabricated oxides. This book is of great value to engineers, materials scientists, and students with advanced materials science courses.