The experimental principle of Nano Indenter II and its applications

As a new system for determining the mechanical properties of materials, Nano Indenter II mechanical properties micro-probe (MPM) is introduced. The MPM is an indentation system controlled by computer. Its displacement accuracy of indenter can reach +/-0.04nm. Therefore, it can be used to study mechanical properties of materials in micro-scale. Because of its high accuracy of indenter displacement, it has the advantage of studying thin foil materials, ion implanted materials and surface modified materials. The major difference between the MPM and the conventional hardness tester is that the MPM can record continually the load-displacement data and then figure out the hardness and elastic modulus from the data. In this way the measurement of indent area is not needed. Therefore, the error of the measurement is avoided. The experimental principle of the MPM and the calculations for hardness and elastic modulus are stated. Its applications in materials science are demonstrated.