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Features of the Micro Hardness Tester

• Hardness & Young's modulus
• Unique Z automatic motorized approach
• Integrated Video Zoom for easy determination of optical failure
• Depth versus load curves
• Automatic operation under Windows XP
• Spherical, Vickers, Knoop and Berkovitch micro indentations
• Creep, stiffness and fatigue tests
• Sample Heating and cooling holder from -196C to 400C
• Fracture toughness measurements
• Easy upgrade to full non-contact profiling system
• Mapping Option
• Possibility to add Micro Scratch Capability.
• Nano Hardness, Nano Scratch

Introduction to the Micro Hardness Tester
The Micro Hardness Tester is a high precision instrument for the determination of the micro-mechanical properties of thin coatings and substrates.  With the MHT, you can quickly determine properties such as hardness and Young's modulus on almost any type of material - soft, hard, brittle, or ductile.  The MHT works on the following principle: an indenter tip, with a known geometry, is driven into the sample by applying an increasing load to some preset value. The load is then gradually decreased until partial, or complete, relaxation of the sample has occurred. The load and displacement are recorded continuously throughout this process to produce a load-displacement curve from which the micro-mechanical properties such as hardness, Young's modulus, stress-strain studies, time dependant creep measurement, fracture toughness, and plastic and elastic energy of the sample material can be calculated.  The MHT covers a wide load range from 10 mN to 30 N.  This load range of the instrument permits measurements of coatings down to 1 or 2 microns without the being influenced by the substrate materials.  In addition, the MHT can also perform all ASTM tests as specified for standard micro-hardness testers and, therefore, bridges the gap between traditional and automated indentation techniques.  Standard micro-hardness tests such as fracture toughness can now be used in a dynamic mode since the depth curve for some materials will show the initiation of cracking in the material.  

Independent force & depth sensors: Only Nanovea Micro Hardness Testers have independent force and depth sensors which are separately calibrated using equipment traceable to mass and length standards.

Non-contact light sensor: Contrary to competitors who use capacitor sensors attached to a mechanical arm that must touch the surface, Nanovea uses a non-contact white light sensor (Patent Pending). 

Complete Instrumented Indentation Analysis Software

The software runs under Microsoft Windows XP and includes a complete set of features for data analysis:  

• Real-time display of Load versus Displacement curves
• Automatic calculation of hardness and elastic modulus
• Automatic data averaging
• Multi-cycle for fatigue test
• Creep measurement by holding a constant maximum load or depth over time
• Mapping of indentations
• Positioning of each indent with the microscope
• Precise relocation of each indentation
• Images from a color camera
• Program each indent to a maximum depth or load
• Control of loading and unloading rates and pause time
• Complies with ISO 14577
• Export in ASCII format
• Automatic Statistical Analysis of results tabulated with standard deviation
• Finite Element interface (optional)
• User-friendly