Hysitron TriboIndenter

Description

The Hysitron TriboIndenter is an automated nanomechanical test instrument for measuring the hardness and elastic modulus of thin films and coatings using controlled indentation of surfaces. It provides quantitative nanomechanical testing capabilities with normal and lateral force loading configurations. It has an automated stage for imaging sample surfaces (in-situ imaging with the indenter tip or with optical or atomic force microscopy) and positioning indentations with submicron precision. The instrument can be used for investigating the mechanical and abrasion behavior of surfaces and ultra-thin coatings, for profilometry measurements, for measuring the moduli and mechanical properties of interfaces and individual phases, measuring the viscoelastic properties of polymers and biological materials on size scales down to the cellular level.

Sample Images (click image for details)

General Specifications

The NCFL's Hysitron TriboIndenter is equipped with:
• Environmental isolation enclosure with active vibration damping and passive acoustic dampening
• Two-dimensional load head with a maximum load of 10 mN normal force and a noise floor of 100nN or less
• Maximum load of 2 mN lateral force for scratch testing and coefficient of friction studies
• Graphical load function editor for generating complex loading schemes and measuring force-displacement data
• In-situ SPM imaging over a field of at least 60 microns x 60 microns for precise (<15 nm) indenter positioning
• Can accommodate samples of varying heights up to 50 mm and an accessible area of at 125 mm x 125 mm
• Dynamic mechanical testing mode (oscillating tip testing from 10-300 Hz)
• Modulus mapping for generating spatial distribution of storage modulus, loss modulus, stiffness and tan delta along with a simultaneous topographic image of the same area
• Automated mode to allow for unattended scratch testing, scanning wear testing, quasistatic-indentation, and in-situ imaging
• Data acquisition system capable of collecting more than 25,000 data points per second and generate indentation force/displacement curves millions of data points

Detailed Specifications