ABSTRACT
The micro-indentation test is a method used for the estimation and mapping of the mechanical properties, including modulus and hardness, on a sub-micrometer scale. Nano-and micro-indenters have been developed to measure load and displacement as an indenter is forced into the surface of a material. The indentation load-displacement data obtained can be used to calculate the mechanical properties of the material tested using different models. Williams et al. [6] have used a nanoindenter to measure the modulus near the fiber in an epoxy/graphite composite. The results suggested that the modulus of the material surrounding the fiber was affected by two competing phenomena: a chemical and a mechanical effect. The latter is caused by the presence of the stiff fiber adjacent to the soft material, which contributes to the measurement of an apparent high modulus.
