Range Of Features In A State-of-the-art Nano Indenter

By Author: Vishal Khosla
Total Articles: 19
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Advanced engineers may use nano indenter for advanced testing. Some applications where the instrument can be deployed are semiconductor, DLC films, hard coatings, thin films, MEMs, fibers, polymers, composite materials, ceramics, metals, biomaterials, artificial tissues and lead-free solder. Users should be able to quantify the relationship between structure, properties and performance of the materials with minimal sample preparation.

Nano indenter is a precise, flexible instrument for mechanical testing. Electromagnetic actuation allows the instrument to perform to a dynamic range in force and displacement.

A top-of-the-line instrument would enable measurement of deformation over several orders of magnitude (from nanometers to millimeters). Modular options may be added to accommodate a range of applications. Its capabilities can be extended to facilitate high speed frequency-specific testing, mechanical properties mapping, integrated probe based imaging, high temperature testing, customizable test protocols, and quantitative scratch and wear testing.

With a nano indenter, users can use minimal sample ...
... preparation to quantify the relationship between structure, properties and performance of the materials. Find a nano indenter as it simplifies things for the users. Make sure that the provider offers sound technical support in case you require it. Adept engineers can use the nano indenter for more advanced testing. The instrument can be used in a range of applications and it depends on the expertise of the technician. Some applications where nano indenter can be used are thin films, MEMs, semiconductor, DLC films, hard coatings, fibers, polymers, composite materials, ceramics, metals, biomaterials, artificial tissues and lead-free solder.

Features of a nano indenter may include Accurate, repeatable results; Configurable for routine testing or new applications; Excellent software with real-time; Precision drift compensation; Easy test protocol development, and Modular options for high speed, scratch, high temperature and dynamic testing.

Experiments done using a nano indenter rely on the accuracy of the fundamental load and the displacement data. It requires high precision control of load applied to the sample. Nano Indenter is powered by electromagnetic actuation-based force transducers which ensure accurate measurements. Design of the instrument would help avoid lateral displacement artifacts.

A top-notch nano indenter offers features such as convenient access to the entire sample tray, easy viewing of the sample position and the sample work area, and simplicity in sample height adjustment. For future upgrades, a modular controller design is optimized. It also ensures data integrity giving engineers the ability to program experiments.

The range of load-displacement experimentation to the surface contact level can be extended as well. It may also offer advantages such easy tip exchange, higher loading capability and the range of indenter travel.

Some models of nano indenter may allow researchers to study not only the first few nanometers of an indentation, but even the pre-contact mechanics. For that, the noise level of the indentation system is optimized to improve actual displacement measurement capability. The noise levels are typically less than an angstrom.

The nano indenter may have an option to fully characterize dynamic properties and accurately characterize viscoelastic materials. It allows indentation tests to be controlled with a constant strain rate. It is a critical test parameter for material systems.

There are highly versatile, easy-to-use test methods that suit applications involving ceramics, structural polymers, metals, glasses, thin films and low-k materials. There may also be support to automatically generate histograms and 3D mechanical properties maps. It may also have an option to provide 3D quantitative analysis for MEMS probing, scratch testing and wear testing.

Author of this article is associated with Rtec Instruments, a California based company that deals in nano indenter, scratch tester, surface profiler, high temperature tribometer and other instruments.