Amin Nouroozi Masir - Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Campus ۲, University of Guilan, Rasht,Iran,
Abolfazl Darvizeh - Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran,
Asghar Zajkani - Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Nowadays, nano mechanical properties have attracted wide attention among researchers. Nanoindentation test is an efficient experimental method for examining the mechanical properties of engineering and biological materials on a nano scale. Shells structure of Calcium carbonate are among those biological materials composed of 5% organic and 95% inorganic materials (calcium carbonate). Calcium carbonate is found as both inorganic (mineral) in nature and organic in biological organisms, including shellfish. Therefore, the present paper focuses on the nanomechanical properties (elastic modulus and hardness) of organic and mineral calcium carbonate through nanoindentation tests using a diamond indenter under maximum contact load in the range of 10 mN with a loading rate of 20 nm/min. The study findings indicate that the mechanical properties of mineral calcium carbonate are higher than those of organic calcium carbonate.

Mechanical Properties, Elastic Modulus, Hardness, Nano indentation, Mineral Calcium Carbonate, Organic Calcium Carbonate