ABSTRACT
In any new materials development, nanoindentation is often used when we need to know its mechanical integrity at the microstructural length scale. It can be applied for thin films and coatings, bulk materials, composites, alloys, hybrid nanocomposites, functionally graded materials, as well as living cells, etc. It can be used in three basic modes: (a) depth control, (b) location control, and (c) phase control, as shown schematically in Figure 5.1.
