The mechanical properties and microstructures of microcrystalline layers were studied. This compound was shown to have a low defect density, high hardness and quite good plasticity. The dependences of the microhardness and brittleness upon load were explained in terms of the dislocation-disclination deformation mechanism.

Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Microcrystalline GaN. I.Zhilyaev, D.Grabco, D.Leu, V.Botnariuc, S.Raevskii: Philosophical Magazine A, 2002, 82[10], 2217-21