Model – Hyistron TI 950 (Bruker)
A Nanoindenter is the main component for indentation hardness tests used in nanoindentation. Nanoindentation, also called depth sensing indentation or instrumented indentation, gained popularity with the development of machines that could record small load and displacement with high accuracy and precision. The load displacement data can be used to determine modulus of elasticity, hardness, yield strength, fracture toughness, scratch hardness and wear properties.
There are many types of nanoindenters in current use differing mainly on their tip geometry. Among the numerous available geometries are three and four sided pyramids, wedges, cones, cylinders, filaments, and spheres. The material for most nanoindenters is diamond and sapphire, although other hard materials can be used such as quartz, silicon, tungsten, steel, tungsten carbide and almost any other hard metal or ceramic material. Diamond is the most commonly used material for nanoindentation due to its properties of hardness, thermal conductivity, and chemical inertness. In some cases electrically conductive diamond may be needed for special applications and is also available. For precise measurements a laser goniometer is used to measure diamond nanoindenter angles. Nanoindenter faces are highly polished and reflective which is the basis for the laser goniometer measurements. The laser goniometer can measure within a thousandth of a degree to specified or requested angles.
Testing Modes:-
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Quasistatic Nanoindentation
Measure Young’s modulus, hardness, fracture toughness and other mechanical properties via nanoindentation.
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Scratch Testing
Quantify scratch resistance, critical delamination forces, and friction coefficients with simultaneous normal and lateral force and displacement monitoring.
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Nanowear
Quantify wear behavior over the nanometer to micrometer length scales as a function of number of sliding cycles, sliding velocity, wear area, and applied force.
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SPM Imaging
In-situ imaging using the indenter tip provides nanometer precision test positioning and surface topography information.
Usage:
1 Quasistatic nanoindentation
2 Characterisation of Visco-elastic materials via DMA
3 Scratch testing and Surface Scanning of biomaterials, thin films and coatings