Nanoindentation Lab

1. Lab Description and Capabilities

• Hysitron Premier nanoindentation apparatus with nanoscratch and dynamical mechanical mapping capabilities
• Multiple heads to allow for measurements of hardness over a wide range of values

2. Deliverables

• Determination of nanomechanical properties of films that complement the chemical information from XPS and Auger spectroscopy and morphological information from X-ray diffraction and reflectivity
• Quantification of hardness of films and coatings of materials varying from polymers to metals and ceramics
• Determination of coating adhesion to substrate through nanoscratch testing
• Determination of coating failure mechanisms
• Scanning probe Images of nanoindentations
• Scanning probe and optical Images of scratches and failure modes
• Highly localized determination of dynamic mechanical properties in blends, composites, nanocomposites, functional materials, and hierarchical materials.
• Maps of sample loss stiffness, storage stiffness and damping
• Deposition of metal films available conveniently in neighboring lab

3. Major Equipment and Specific Minor Equipment

• Hysitron TI Premier nanomechanical test system
• Multiple heads to provide measurements for both hard and soft materials
• Lateral force option for nanoscratch – up to 10 mN normal force, 2 mN lateral force
• NanoDMA III coupled AC and DC force modulation for quantitative nanoscale dynamic characterization
• Modulus mapping unit for mapping loss stiffness, storage stiffness, and damping
• Triboscan v.9 software for test control, data acquisition and analysis and dedicated workstation
• Top-down color optics for viewing sample and identifying location for indent or scratch
• In situ scanning probe imaging with the probe used for nanoindentation

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