NANOINDENT · Creating and disseminating novel nanomechanical characterisation techniques and standards

Our project aims to gather, improve, catalogue and present characterisation techniques, methods and equipment for nanomechanical testing. European-wide activities coordinated by a new virtual centre will improve existing nanoindentation metrology to reveal structure-properties relationship at the nano-scale. These methods are the only tools to characterise nanocomposite, nanolayer and interface mechanical behaviours in the nanometre range. This work will also lay down a solid base for subsequent efforts for defining and preparing new standards to support measurement technology in the field of nanomaterials characterisation. Steps include development of the classical and the dynamic nanoindentation method and its application to new fields, application of modified nano-indenters to new fields as scratching and wear measurement, firm and uniform determination of instrumental parameters and defining new standard samples for the new applications. The virtual centre will disseminate information based on a new “Nanocharacterisation database” built on two definite levels: on a broader level partners will inventory and process all novel nanocharacterisation techniques and, in narrower terms, they will concentrate on nanomechanical characterisation. This will be achieved through the synchronisation of efforts set around a core of round robins but the database will include data of other channels as parallel research work and literature recherché. Core activities comprise detailed dissemination activities. Indirect connections to the stakeholders by a webpage with a build-in interactive database will be complemented by direct events such as participation in workshops (oral and poster presentations), and regular technical reports in international journals. Activities above will lead to detailed descriptions of novel characterisation techniques. The development and definition of new standards and good practices will support design of intrinsically safe nanomaterials for wide industrial applications.