Instrumented Microindentation Tester
Automatic load and displacement curves, Hardness (Traditional and instrumented), Elastic Modulus, Creep, and many more calculations.
- Microindentation + scratch test combination head from mN to 40 N
- Piezo controlled actuator for both Indentation and scratch mode
- Multi dimension capacitive force measurements
A Microhardness Tester Like No Other
The SMT-5000 is customizable and provides reliable microhardness and modulus analysis. Clear results every time.
Indenters and Scratch Mode
Click of a button run (indent + 3D image + scratch)
Load Profiles:
constant, linear, or user-defined applied load profiles. Measure the normal force and resulting friction forces using precise NIST traceable sensors.
Indenters:
Berkovich, Balls, Cube Corner, Conical-Spherical, Knife, Knoop, Vickers, and more diamond indenters.
Scratch Testing
Characterize coating adhesion, mar resistance, hardness, and more.
The synchronization of data and 3D imaging ( Patent US 10,024,776 B2) is a unique and novel tool to study surface deformation and failures.
- Piezo actuator for precise down motion.
- The best friction force sensitivity on the market. One head provides normal and tangential force sensors.
- Multiple ranges from nano to macro on one platform. Easily interchangeable heads.
- Environmental control. (Temperature, humidity, corrosion, and many more).
- Measurement on a flat or curved surface.
- Click here for applications notes
What is a Microindentation Tester?
The Rtec Instrument microindentation tester (or microhardness tester) measures hardness, elastic modulus, and many others at a microscopic scale. Read more below on how the SMT-5000 answers common microindentation testing questions.
What Is Instrumented Indentation testing?
Instrumented Indentation Testing (IIT) involves pressing an indenter of known geometry into a surface while controlling and measuring the force and displacement. The resulting load-displacement curves are used to calculate hardness and elastic modulus among other things.
How is hardness measured in indentation?
Hardness is defined as a contact pressure (Force by contact area).
Traditional hardness tests use the maximum force applied on the tip and the visual measurement of the size of the imprint left into the material (after removal of the force) to calculate Hardness values.
IIT also uses the maximum force applied on the tip, but calculates the true cross-sectional area of contact between the tip and the material at the point of maximum force
What is the difference between IIT and traditional hardness tests?
Traditional hardness tests provide only one characteristic: hardness. Furthermore, most hardness tests rely on the optical observation and measurement of an indent under a microscope. This often creates uncertainty and operator error due to the different magnifications available on the microscope.
Why IIT is Different
IIT brings additional information about the material. Such as the elastic modulus, that the conventional hardness could not measure. Additionally, the direct calculations of the area used for Hardness in IIT eliminate the possible errors introduced by users. It instead measures the imprint optically rather than traditional hardness tests. Finally, the use of much lower forces in IIT allows for the investigation of much smaller volumes of materials. This opens the ability to measure coatings independently from their substrate.
How is modulus measured using IIT?
Elastic modulus is the ability of a material to “bounce back” after applying stress. By its control and recording of force and displacement, IIT can provide the elastic modulus of the material tested by studying the unloading portion of the test. After the maximum force is applied to the material, the test’s unloading portion represents the material’s elastic response. A fitting of the unloading curve accompanied by using different models yields the value of the elastic modulus.
