SHORT ABSTRACT
The mechanical investigation of polymeric thin films, laminates and small volumes is very important for (microelectronic) industry. For this purpose, standard methods to examine mechanical properties, like tensile testing, are not applicable. Here, nanoindentation (NI) as a depth-sensing instrumentation is a useful tool to examine mechanical parameters though it was originally developed to study metals.
The investigation of mechanical properties of polymers is more challenging since the deformation during loading is time-dependent, which can be described with viscoelasticity. Also the morphology and the surface constitution of a polymer plays an essential role in the data interpretation.
The webinar will give an overview of the advantages and limitations of instrumented indentation testing of polymers.
SHORT AUTHOR BIO
Petra Christöfl has a bachelor degree in “Technical Physics” and a master in “Advanced Materials Science”, both from Technical University of Graz (Austria).
At the moment she works at Polymer Competence Center in Leoben and does her PhD in Polymer Science at Montanuniversität Leoben with emphasis on nanoindentation of polymers.