Application Note | Nanoindentation Mapping
High-Speed Nanoindentation Mapping for Grain Detection in Ceramics
625- and 1600-Indent Hardness Maps of a Ceramic Tile for Grain Detection and Homogeneity
Research & Experimental Testing
Duanjie Li
Visual Design & Editorial
Andrew Shore
Introduction
Why Fast Mapping Indentation Matters
One significant bottleneck for further popularization of the nanoindentation technique is time consumption. A mechanical property mapping by conventional nanoindentation procedure can easily take hours which hinders the application of the technique in mass production industries, such as semiconductor, aerospace, MEMS, consumer products such as ceramic tiles and many others.
Fast mapping can prove to be essential in the ceramic tile manufacturing industry. Hardness and Young’s modulus mappings across a single ceramic tile can present a distribution of data that indicates how homogeneous the surface is. Softer regions on a tile can be outlined in this mapping and show locations more prone to failure from physical impacts that happen on a day to day basis in someone’s residence. Mappings can be made on different types of tiles for comparative studies and on a batch of similar tiles to measure tile consistency in quality control processes. The combination of measurement setups can be extensive as well as accurate and efficient with the fast mapping method.
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Measurement Objective
In this study, the NANOVEA Mechanical Tester, in FastMap mode is used to map the mechanical property of a floor tile at high speeds. We showcase the capacity of the NANOVEA Mechanical Tester in performing two fast nanoindentation mappings with high precision and reproducibility.
NANOVEA PB1000 Large Platform
Mechanical Tester
Test Conditions
The NANOVEA Mechanical Tester was used to perform a series of nanoindentations with the FastMap Mode on a floor tile using a Berkovich indenter. The test parameters are summarized below for the two indent matrices created.
| Parameter | 625-indent map | 1600-indent map |
|---|---|---|
| Matrix | 25 × 25 indents | 40 × 40 indents |
| Indent spacing | 8 µm | 100 µm |
| Maximum indent normal force | 30 mN | 280 mN |
| Full indentation cycle time (10 indents) | 100 seconds | 100 seconds |
| Total indents | 625 | 1600 |
Table 1: Test parameter summary.
Results and Discussion
625-Indent Map of a Grain
A 625-indent matrix was conducted on a 0.20 mm² area with a large visible grain present. This grain (Fig. 2) had an average hardness lower than the overall surface of the tile. The NANOVEA Mechanical Software allows the user to see the hardness distribution map in 2D and 3D mode which are depicted in Fig. 1. Using the high-precision position control of the sample stage, the software allows users to target areas such as these for in depth mechanical properties mapping.
1600-Indent Map of Surface Homogeneity
A 1600-indent matrix was also created on the same tile to measure the homogeneity of the surface. Here again the user has the ability to see the hardness distribution in 3D or 2D mode (Fig. 3) as well as the microscope image of the indented surface. Based on the hardness distribution presented, it can be concluded that the material is porous due to the even scattering of high and low hardness data points.
Compared to conventional nanoindentation procedures, FastMap mode in this study is substantially less time-consuming and more cost-effective. It enables speedy quantitative mapping of mechanical properties including Hardness and Young’s Modulus and provides a solution for grain detection and material consistency which is critical for quality control of a variety of materials in mass production.
Conclusion
In this study, we showcased the capacity of the NANOVEA Mechanical Tester in performing speedy and precise nanoindentation mapping using FastMap mode. The mechanical property maps on the ceramic tile utilize the position control (with 0.2 µm accuracy) of the stages and force module sensitivity to detect surface grains and measure homogeneity of a surface at high speed.
The test parameters used in this study were determined based on the size of the matrix and sample material. A variety of test parameters can be chosen to optimize the total indentation cycle time to 3 seconds per indent (or 30 seconds for every 10 indentations).
The Nano and Micro modules of the NANOVEA Mechanical Tester all include ISO and ASTM compliant indentation, scratch and wear tester modes, providing the widest and most user-friendly range of testing available in a single system. NANOVEA’s unmatched range is an ideal solution for determining the full range of mechanical properties of thin or thick, soft or hard coatings, films and substrates, including hardness, Young’s Modulus, fracture toughness, adhesion, wear resistance and many others.
In addition, optional 3D non-contact profiler and AFM Module are available for high resolution 3D imaging of indentation, scratch and wear track in addition to other surface measurements such as roughness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Nanoindentation Mapping
Why does nanoindentation mapping need to be fast?
A mechanical property map by conventional nanoindentation can easily take hours, which hinders its use in mass production industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, MEMS and consumer products like ceramic tiles. FastMap mode is substantially less time-consuming and more cost-effective.
What does a hardness map of a ceramic tile show?
Hardness and Young’s modulus maps across a tile show how homogeneous the surface is. Softer regions can be outlined as locations more prone to failure from everyday impacts, and maps of different tiles or a batch of similar tiles support comparison and quality control.
How were the hardness maps measured?
With a Berkovich indenter in FastMap mode: a 25 × 25 matrix at 8 µm spacing and 30 mN, and a 40 × 40 matrix at 100 µm spacing and 280 mN, each with a full indentation cycle of 100 seconds per 10 indents.
What did the maps reveal about the tile?
The 625-indent map targeted a large visible grain with lower average hardness than the rest of the tile. The 1600-indent map showed an even scattering of high and low hardness points, indicating a porous material.
How fast can each indentation be?
Test parameters can be chosen to optimize the total indentation cycle time to 3 seconds per indent, or 30 seconds for every 10 indentations, depending on the matrix size and sample material.
Which NANOVEA instrument performs fast nanoindentation mapping?
The NANOVEA Mechanical Tester in FastMap mode, with 0.2 µm stage position accuracy for targeting areas such as individual grains. Its Nano and Micro modules include ISO and ASTM compliant indentation, scratch and wear modes.
