Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
High-temperature constant-force indentation creep tests of 200 seconds duration were performed on an annealed gold specimen at 473K to 773K, to investigate the dependence of the micro-/nano-indentation deformation kinetics upon indentation stress, temperature and time. The indent stress displayed a clear indentation size effect at 473 K. An analysis of the measured indentation creep rate, and its dependence upon temperature and stress, indicate that the strength of the deformation rate limiting obstacles increases with temperature. This is consistent with the expected temperature dependent evolution of the dislocation cell structure whose boundaries become the primary obstacles to dislocation glide.