Instrumented nanoindentation technique

Using low load and increasing progressively the load, the instrumented nanoindentation technique allows for investigation of the elastic-plastic response of coatings as well as their adhesion to the substrate (Figure H.8). Indeed, the probe size can be adjusted to the film thickness using appropriate loads. For dedicated... 

In this chapter, we overview basic techniques for making nanoscale adhesion and mechanical property measurements. Both quasi-static and dynamic measurements are addressed. In Section 2 of this chapter, we overview basic AFM instrumentation and techniques, while depth-sensing nanoindentation is overviewed in Section 3. Section 4 addresses recent advances in instrumentation and techniques... 

Experimental techniques most commonly used to probe the plastic properties of thin film materials involve direct tensile loading of either a freestanding film or a film deposited onto a deformable substrate material, microbeam bending of films on substrates, substrate curvature measurement or instrumented depth-sensing nanoindentation. Sahent features of these methods, as well as specific examples of the adaptation of these methods for the study of mechanical properties in thin films, are briefly addressed in the following subsections. 

---