1 Scope
This part of ISO 14577 specifies the method of instrumented indentation test for determination of hardness
and other materials parameters for the following three ranges:
macro range: 2 N ≤ F ≤ 30 kN;
micro range: 2 N > F ; h > 0,2 µm;
nano range: h ≤ 0,2 µm.
For the nano range, the mechanical deformation strongly depends on the real shape
of indenter tip and the calculated material parameters are significantly influenced
by the contact area function of the indenter used in the testing machine. Therefore,
careful calibration of both instrument and indenter shape is required in order to
achieve an acceptable reproducibility of the materials parameters determined with
different machines.
The macro and micro ranges are distinguished by the test forces in relation to the
indentation depth.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the micro range has an upper limit given by the
test force...