Nanoindentation

What Is Nanoindentation?

Nanoindentation involves pressing a sharp diamond indenter into the surface of a material under precisely controlled load or displacement. By continuously recording the applied force and resulting penetration depth, mechanical properties are extracted from the load–displacement curve.

This technique enables measurement of mechanical behavior at nanometer-scale depths, making it ideal for heterogeneous and layered materials.

What Nanoindentation Measures

Nanoindentation provides quantitative data on:

Hardness
Elastic (Young’s) modulus
Load–displacement behavior
Creep and time-dependent deformation (when applicable)
Mechanical property variation across small regions

It allows mapping of mechanical properties across surfaces and interfaces.

Why Use Nanoindentation?

Nanoindentation is chosen when:

material volume is limited
properties vary with depth or location
thin films or coatings must be evaluated independently
localized failure or wear is suspected

Typical questions nanoindentation can answer:

How hard or stiff is a thin film or coating?
Do mechanical properties vary across layers or interfaces?
Has processing changed surface or near-surface properties?
Are local weak zones contributing to failure?
How do different coatings or treatments compare?

Typical Application Scenarios

Thin Films & Coatings

Hardness and modulus of coatings
Depth-dependent mechanical profiling
Comparison of coating formulations or processes

Polymers & Soft Materials

Local stiffness variation
Viscoelastic and creep behavior
Evaluation of surface-modified layers

Metals & Alloys

Microstructural mechanical heterogeneity
Effect of heat treatment or surface processing
Grain or phase-level property comparison

Composites & Multilayer Materials

Mechanical properties of individual phases
Interface and interlayer evaluation
Failure mechanism investigations

Failure Analysis & Wear Studies

Identification of mechanically weak regions
Correlation of mechanical properties with wear or cracking
Comparison of “good vs. failed” areas

Sample Types

Nanoindentation can be applied to:

thin films and coatings
metals and alloys
polymers and elastomers
ceramics and composites

Samples require a reasonably smooth surface; Xinbodi can advise on surface preparation when needed.

What You Will Receive

Each nanoindentation project is delivered with a clear, structured report suitable for engineering and R&D decisions. A typical deliverable includes:

test objective and sample description
indentation method and test conditions
hardness and modulus values
load–displacement curves
depth-dependent or spatially resolved results
comparison summaries between regions or samples
interpretation of mechanical behavior and its impact
recommendations for material selection or follow-up testing

Why Choose Xinbodi for Nanoindentation?

High-precision nanomechanical testing capability
Experience with thin films and complex materials
Reliable and repeatable measurements
Clear interpretation linked to real-world performance
Support for R&D, QC, and failure investigations
Confidential handling of proprietary materials and data