NANOINDENT-plus · Standardising the nano-scratch test

This project will further develop, validate and draft standards for nano-scratching, which is an important new tool to investigate the tribological properties of materials on a scale relevant to the fundamental mechanisms of wear. It will facilitate the development of new coatings and engineered surfaces that will give impact through improved competitiveness of industry and a better quality of life for EU citizens. Nano-scratching clearly operates at a different length scale to macro- and micro-scratch tests, but can be a straightforward extension of the capability of nanoindentation equipment. This is an area where European industry is very strong, three European SMEs have a dominant role in production of such instruments.In scratching a sharp, stiff tool is moved on the surface of the sample while a normal force is applied on the tool tip. At different threshold values of the force the tip penetrates into the sample by various mechanisms. These threshold forces, or more precisely the stresses that are generated at these thresholds, are characteristic parameters for the failure of the substrate-coating system in question.Test procedures and software for nano-scratching are in their infancy compared to those for nanoindentation. Development of nanoindentation equipment started on a firm theoretical basis, while nano-scratching (as macro-scratching) has no uniform methodology till now.One part of the NANOINDENT FP-7 project (NMP3-CA-2008-218659) dealt with the development of nano-scratching metrology, guidelines for determining scratching data were constituted. Based on these studies, NANOINDENT partners have set up this new proposal to start a standardisation process. The overall aim of the project is to draft a New Working Item Proposal (NWIP) for a standard in nano-scratching that will be submitted to the appropriate CEN technical committee (TC 352) through a workshop of the main European stakeholders from industry, academia, and research organizations.