The NanoFlip nanoindenter measures hardness, modulus, yield strength, stiffness and other nanomechanical tests with high accuracy and precision under both vacuum and ambient conditions. In both scanning electron microscope (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) systems, the NanoFlip excels at tests, such as pillar compression, while synchronizing the SEM images with the mechanical test data. The NanoFlip performs fast measurements, which are key to testing heterogeneous materials in inert environments (e.g., glove boxes). The suite of options available, such as the InForce50 electromagnetic actuator, combine to deliver quantitative results that lead to valuable solutions in material research.

Main function:

Continuous Stiffness Measurement (CSM)

The CSM technique involves oscillating the probe during indentation to measure properties as a function of depth, force, time, or frequency. The option comes with a constant strain rate experiment that measures hardness and modulus as a function of depth or load, which is the most common test method used across academia and industry. CSM is also used for other advanced options, including the ProbeDMA™ method for storage and loss modulus measurements and AccuFilm™ substrate-independent measurements. The CSM is integrated into the InQuest controller and InView software to deliver unparalleled ease of use and data quality.

NanoBlitz3D

NanoBlitz 3D utilizes the InForce 50 actuator to generate 3D maps of measurements for high-E (>3GPa) materials with a Berkovichtip. NanoBlitz performs indents at < 1s per indent, up to 100,000 indents (300x300 array), and will provide Young’s modulus, hardness, and stiffness at a specified load for each indent in the array. This large number of tests allows increased statistical accuracy, and includes histogram charts to show multiple phases or materials. NanoBlitz 3D also provides visualization software and data handling capabilities

AccuFilm™ Thin Film Method Pack

The AccuFilm™ Thin Film Method Pack is an InView test method based on the Hay-Crawford model for measuring substrate-independent material properties using Continuous Stiffness Measurement (CSM). AccuFilm™ corrects for substrate influence on film measurements for hard films on soft substrates as well as soft films on hard substrates.

ProbeDMA™ Polymer Method Pack

The Polymer Pack enables measurement of the complex modulus of polymers as a function of frequency. The pack includes a flat-punch tip, a viscoelastic reference material, and a test method for evaluation of viscoelastic properties. This measurement technique is key to characterizing nanoscale polymers and polymer films that are not well-served by traditional DMA test instruments.

Scratch and Wear Testing Method Pack

The scratch and wear testing method pack is provided with the InForce 50 actuator. Scratch testing involves the application of either a constant or ramped load to an indenter while moving across the sample surface at a specified velocity. Scratch testing allows characterization of numerous material systems, such as thin films, brittle ceramics, and polymers.

Gemini 2D Multi-Axis Transducer

The Gemini 2D multi-axis technology brings the same performance of standard indentation to a second lateral axis, with the CSM operating along both axes simultaneously. The additional information provided by this patented technique helps give new insight to material properties and failure mechanisms. The two-dimensional force transducer is a unique solution in lateral force and tribology measurements, and enables measurements of Poisson's ratio, coefficient of friction, scratch, wear, shear and topology.

DataBurst

DataBurst enables systems equipped with InView software and the InQuest controller to record displacement data at rates >1kHzfor measuring high strain step loads, pop-in and other high speed events. NanoFlip systems outfitted with the User Method Development option can also modify methods to work with DataBurst.

Technical Features

• InForce 50 actuator for capacitance displacement measurement and electromagnetic force actuation with interchangeable tips

• InQuest high-speed controller electronics with 100kHz data acquisition rate and 20µs time constant

• XYZ motion system for sample targeting

• SEM video capture for synchronized SEM images with test data

• Unique software-integrated tip-calibration system for fast, accurate tip calibration

• InView control and data review software with Windows ®10 compatibility and method developer for user-designed experiments.

• Indentation test in accordance with international standard iso14577

• Nanoflip dynamic test accessory is developed by the inventor of patent    technology of continuous stiffness: the principle of dynamic mechanical test is to apply a positive metaphysical wave on the indenter in the process of quasi-static loading, so as to characterize the change of material mechanical properties with the change of indentation depth, load, time or frequency.

      Nanoblitz 3D technology provides the young's modulus, hardness and stiffness of each indentation under load. A large number of tests improve the accuracy of statistics, and automatically generate the young's modulus, hardness and stiffness mapping diagram. It is an important method to study heterogeneous materials.

Technological capability

    Continuous Stiffness Measurement (CSM)

    Continuous stiffness measurement is used to quantify dynamic material properties, such as strain rate and frequency-inducedeffects. The NanoFlip nanoindenter provides dynamic excitation from 0.1Hz to 1kHz, enabling time-based monitoring for accuratedetermination of initial surface contact and continuous measurement of contact stiffness as a function of depth or frequency.

    High Speed Material Property Maps

    For composite materials, the mechanical properties may vary widely from one area to the next. NanoFlip provides a samplestage movement of 21mm in the X and Y axes, and 25mm in the Z axis, allowing testing of a wide range of sample heights overa sample area. The optional NanoBlitz Topography and Tomography software can quickly generate color maps of any of the measured mechanical properties.

Nano Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA)

Polymers are exceptionally complex materials. In order to gain useful information for polymer design decisions, mechanical property measurements should be made on a relevant sample in a relevant context. Nanoindentation testing makes such context-specific measurements more accessible because samples can be small and minimally prepared. The NanoFlip nanoindenter system can also be used to measure complex modulus and the viscoelastic properties of the polymer by oscillating the indenter while in contact with the materials.

Hardness and Modulus Measurements (Oliver-Pharr)

    Mechanical characterization is critical in the process and manufacture of films, including the quality of coatings in the automotive industry, as well as during process control of front-end and back-end semiconductor manufacturing.

    Polymer Tan Delta, Storage and Loss Modulus

    The Nanoflip nanoindenter is capable of measuring both tan delta and the storage and loss modulus for ultra-soft materials, including viscoelastic polymers. Storage and loss modulus and tan delta are important properties of viscoelastic polymers, whose energy is stored as elastic energy and dissipated as heat. Both of these metrics measure energy dissipation in a given material.

Reference

1. Gyuho Song, et al. Ultra high elastically compressible and strain-engineerable intermetallic compounds under uniaxial mechanical loading. APL Mater. 7, 061104 (2019).

2. Soheil Daryadel, et al. Toward Control of Microstructure in Microscale Additive Manufacturing of Copper Using Localized Electrodeposition. Adv. Eng. Mater. 2019, 21, 1800946.

3. Zan Li, et al. Graphene quality dominated interface deformation behavior of graphene-metal composite: The defective is better. International Journal of Plasticity 111 (2018) 253–265.

4. Soheil Daryadel, et al. Additive Manufacturing of Metals at Micro/Nanoscale by Localized Pulsed Electrodeposition: Nano twinned Copper Nanowires. Proceedings of the ASME 2018 13th International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference MSEC2018 June 18-22, 2018, College Station, TX, USA.

5. Jonathan Lentz, et al. Hardness and modulus of Fe2B, Fe3(C,B), and Fe23(C,B)6 borides and carboborides in the Fe-C-B system. Materials Characterization 135 (2018) 192–202.

6. Erik G. Herbert, et al. Nanoindentation of high-purity vapor deposited lithium films: The elastic modulus. J. Mater. Res., Vol. 33, No. 10, May 28, 2018.

7. XIDAN FU, et al. Orientation-Dependent Tensile Behavior of Nanolaminated Graphene-Al Composites: An In Situ Study. METALLURGICAL AND MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS A, 5230—VOLUME 49A, NOVEMBER 2018.

8. Bedard, et al. Microstructure and Micromechanical Response in Gas-Atomized Al 6061 Alloy Powder and Cold-Sprayed Splats.

   J Therm Spray Tech (2018) 27:1563–1578.

9. Brett B. Lewis, et al. Growth and Nanomechanical Characterization of Nanoscale 3D Architectures Grown Via Focused Electron Beam Induced Deposition. Nanoscale, 2017.

10. John T. Sypek, Superelastic and micaceous deformation in the intermetallic compound CaFe2As2. Scripta Materialia 141 (2017)10–14.