4. Factors Affecting Nanoindentation Test Data

In conventional indentation tests, the area of contact between the indenter and the specimen at maximum load is usually calculated from the diameter or size of the residual impression after the load has been removed. The size of the residual impression is usually considered to be identical to the contact area at full load, although the depth of penetration may of course be significantly reduced by elastic recovery. Direct imaging of residual impressions made in the submicron regime are usually only possible using inconvenient means and, for this reason, it is usual to measure the load and depth of penetration directly during loading and unloading of the indenter. These measurements are then used to determine the projected area of contact for the purpose of calculating hardness and elastic modulus. In practice, various errors are associated with this procedure.