Progress in the Development of a Mechanical Properties Microprobe

A mechanical properties microprobe is an exciting concept. A system with the ability to evaluate the mechanical response of a sample with submicron spacial resolution would have an extremely wide range of applications. Recent developments in hardware and understanding have placed this goal within our grasp.In 1971, J.J.Gilman wrote the following in his article, “Hardness—A Strength Microprobe”:“Hardness measurements are at once among the most maligned and the most magnificent of physical measurements. Maligned because they are often misinterpreted by the uninitiated, and magnificent because they are so efficient in generating information for the skilled practitioner. They can quickly yield quantitative information about the elastic, anelastic, plastic, viscous, and fracture properties of a great variety of both isotropic and anisotropic solids. The tools that are used are simple and the sample sizes that are needed are typically small, sometimes submicroscopic. This makes it unnecessary to have large specimens in order to measure strength properties and makes it possible to measure the properties of various microscopic particles within the matrix phase of a polyphase metal, mineral, or ceramic material. This is why hardness may be considered to be a strength microprobe.”These statements are worth repeating for two reasons. First, they point out the largely untapped potential for microin-dentation tests to improve our understanding of the mechanical properties of materials. Second, it is the first mention of hardness tests in the context of a strength microprobe. In this article the more general term of microindentation tests will be used, since hardness is only one of many properties that can be measured with such tests. In addition, the term mechanical properties microprobe (MPM) will be used rather than strength microprobe-again, to note the wide variety of properties that can be measured.