Nanoindentation

Nanoindentation, or instrumented indentation, is a technique for measuring the hardness and elastic modulus of materials by pressing a hard probe into a sample surface and continuously recording load and penetration depth. Developed by Oliver and Pharr in 1992, nanoindentation enables measurement of mechanical properties of thin films, small volumes, and nanoscale structures with spatial resolution approaching micrometers. It is the standard tool in materials science for characterizing coatings, interfaces, and mechanical properties at the submicron scale.