3D scratch test full delamination by scratch tester smt-5000

3D Scratch Tester

Rtec Instruments Scratch Tester measures scratch adhesion & cohesion, scratch hardness, mar resistance, and hardness. All at nano, micro, and macro force ranges. Combined with a patented in-line 3D profiler. Characterize bulk materials or coatings from nm to mm thickness.

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3D Scratch Adhesion Tester SMT-5000 Overview

Main Features

  • Nano, Micro, and Macro Scratch ranges on one platform
  • 3D surface panorama image of each scratch
  • Patented in-line 3D imaging of scratch
  • Normal and tangential forces are standard and measured atop the sample
  • 3D Profiler and scratch data automatic correlation

Designed to quantify mechanical behaviors of bulk or coated surfaces from scratch. The SMT-5000 3D scratch tester measures scratch adhesion & cohesion, mar resistance, and hardness. Additionally, the scratch tester provides multi-pass wear at nano, micro, and macro scale.

The in-line integrated 3D profiler supplies unique analysis of failures with high resolution. Furthermore, the profilometer correlates the effect of roughness, features, and more.

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    3D Scratch Tester Like No Other

    Customizable To Fit Your Needs

    Interchangeable Nano, Micro, Macro Scratch Measuring Modules

    Down force from mN to 200 N (Higher force on MFT-5000 platform)

    Patented In-line Profilometer

    3D profiler automatically combines high resolution nm  profiler data and scratch test data

    Lower Interchangeable Motions

    Scratch in linear, rotary or custom motion.

    scratch tester smt-5000
    XY Stage

    The high precision 210 mm XY stage moves test samples between testing and image positions. Besides this, the XY also aids in slow-speed reciprocating tests.

    Upper Z Structure

    High precision multiple Z drives with high resolution encoders moves between testing module and profilometer.

    Platform

    Open platform architecture for superior ease of use. Large sample testing volume, ability to mount and test any large dimension sample or full product.

    Automatic Stitching Of In-line 3D Images

    Scratch Data Visualization. Further analyze failure points and then relate to scratch data.

    coating failure data after scratch adhesion test on scratch tester

    At the end of a scratch, the Universal 3D Scratch Tester SMT-5000 moves the sample under the optical microscope. By doing so, the profiler creates a full 3D panorama of the scratch. The combination measuring head and profilometer allow for measurement of scratch volume, depth, residual deformation, roughness, and volume wear. Furthermore, they provide a precise determination of points of failure with sub-nanometer resolution. Additionally, the turret of the profilometer allows up to 5 objectives. As a result, multiple simultaneous magnifications are possible.

    Interchangeable Scratch Tester Heads On One Platform

    Easy exchange of measuring heads accommodates nano scratch, micro scratch and macro scratch on the same platform.

    Nano Scratch Tester Head

    UST-1

    Max Down Force 1000 mN

    Micro Scratch Tester Head

    UST-40

    Max Down Force 40 N

    Macro Scratch Tester Head

    UST-200

    Max Down Force 200 N

    Friction, Wear, and Coating Failures Data Correlation

    .Pre Test Image

    First, the sample moves under 3D profilometer to measure surface topography

    Scratch test

    Then, single or multiple scratches using predefined recipes are performed

    Post Test Image

    The sample moves under the profilometer to analyze scratch area

    Report

    Lastly, an automatic visualization for failures, adhesion, friction, cohesion and roughness characterizations are reported. Residual depth, volume wear, and permanent deformation are easily calculated.

    3D Scratch tester data showing panoramic image combined with scratch adhesion data

    Patented Integrated Four Mode Profilometer

    The profilometer is optimized to image scratch and indentation marks with high resolutions. Many automatic imaging modes image any sample surface. This includes transparent samples, glass, mirror, rough, smooth, steep slope, and much more with ease.

    Dark Field Mode

    Allows detection of cracks at the surface with notable contrast

    White Light Interferometer Mode

    Allows high resolution images of flat surfaces

    Lambda universal profilometer rtec-instruments
    Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope Mode

    Measures steep slopes,  transparent, dark or rough surfaces

    Bright Field Mode

    2D profiles with high resolution and real colors

    Load Profile and Custom Motions

    Load Profiles: constant, linear increasing or decreasing, steps, or user’s defined load profiles. The applied normal force and resulting friction forces are measured using precise NIST traceable sensors with high thermal stability.

    Various Motions: The automatic 210×150 mm XY stage can perform multiple scratch on single or multiple samples automatically. Scratch tests can be customize to achieve any motion profile –straight, curved, circle, zigzag, and more.

    scratch test using Rockwell tip on 3D scratch tester
    Scratch With Rockwell Tip
    Scratch Adhesion Test Using cutting tool
    Scratch With Cutting Tool

    Sensors and Chambers

    Application specific solutions

    Environmental chambers and a variety of sensors create numerous test variations that replicate real-life scenarios.

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    Electrical Contact Resistance

    Identifies the coating failure point via the measure of the electrical resistance change during the scratch.

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    Acoustic Emission

    Identifies brittle material failures by measuring the shock vibrations during the scratch.

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    Corrosion Setup

    Allows scratch corrosion studies.

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    Environmental Chambers

    Temperature, Humidity, and More.

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    Additional Sensors

    Various sensors on coating scratch adhesion tester provides more information during the test.

    Solution To

    The SMT-5000 3D scratch tester is used extensively across a wide range of industries:

    Aerospace
    • Thermal Spray Coatings
    • Turbine, engine, components
    • Anti corrosive coatings
    Automotive
    • Marr Resistance 
    • Thermal Spray Coatings
    • DLC
    • Paints
    Bio-materials
    • Bio compatible coatings
    • Medical devices
    • Joints
    • Valves, pumps
    Ceramics
    • Ceramic coatings
    • Bulk materials
    Hard Coating
    • Cutting tools
    • Thermal spray
    • DLC
    Metal
    • Bulk Materials
    • Coatings
    • Textured surfaces
    Optics and Glasses
    • Lenses
    • Touch screen
    • Consumer goods
    Pharmaceutical
    • Coatings on tablet
    Polymer
    • Marr resistance
    • Coating
    • Bulk materials
    Semicon
    • Screens
    • Thin coatings
    • Protective coatings
    • Consumer goods

    What is a Scratch Tester?

    The Rtec Instruments SMT-5000 Scratch Tester evaluates scratch adhesion, scratch hardness, and scratch resistance at a nano, micro, and macro scale. Read more below on how the SMT-5000 answers common scratch testing questions.

    scratch-tester-smt-5000

    What tool is used for scratch testing

    In order to perform a controlled scratch on the surface of a material, a scratch tester is used with a sharp tip. The tester applies and controls precisely the force (that can be either constant or changing) while sliding the sample at a constant velocity under a sharp tip. This combination of motion creates the scratch. Often, the tip used is made of diamond to allow scratch to be made on hard materials.

    How is a scratch test performed?

    A scratch is created by dragging a diamond tip of known geometry a top the surface of the sample of interest. As the tip is moved along the surface, the normal load applied to the tip is increased linearly, creating an increase in the severity of the contact. Following the scratch, images are taken of the entire scratch to analyze the different deformation and failures. The normal loads at which failures happen are called critical loads.

    What is a scratch resistance?

    Scratch resistance is the property of a material to resist the deformation created by the scratch test. This is often quantified using the permanent deformation left on the surface of the material.

    Elastic Deformation

    A less common analysis also considers the elastic deformation of the surface during the test. Those values can be found using the penetration of the tip into the material or using the comparison of 3D images pre and post-test.

    How do you measure scratch adhesion?

    In the case of a coating deposited atop a substrate, scratch testing allows the quantification of the adhesion between coating and substrate. By increasing the normal force on the tip to create failure of the coating, the user can distinguish typically the cohesive and adhesive failures of the coating / substrate system. The cohesive failure informs the strength of the coating, while the adhesive failure is the direct measure of the adhesion of the coating onto the substrate.

    Want to learn more?

    Get in touch, and request a demo.

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