| Automated Ball IndentationTM (ABI) | Instrumented Indentation Test (IIT) or depth-sensing indentation / nanoindentation | |
| Computer Control | Automated - computer-controlled motion is mandatory for intermediate partial unloadings, continuous load-depth sensing (1) (2) | Instrumented - instrumented does not equal automated continuous depth-sensing |
| Load Range (F) | Macroscopic (2N ≤ F ≤ 5000 N) | Ultra-low load, nanoindentation (0.05 N≤ F ≤0.50 N) (4) (5) |
| Depth Range (h) | 40μm ≤ h ≤ 400 μm | Nano range: h ≤ 0.2 μm (4) (5) |
| Indenter Geometry | Ball (≥250μm) | Pyramidal Berkovich, (4) (5) Small ball indenter (<50μm) rarely used due to unacceptable geometry |
| Load/Displacement Shape | Linear | Curve |
| Partial Unloading Technique | Yes (1) (2) | No |
| Indent Measurement | Analytical | Analytical and optical |
| Calibration | Load cell calibrated per ASTM E4 and E74 LVDT calibrated with traceable micrometer |
No calibration blocks exist for Martens hardness or indentation modulus |
| Vibration Table Required | No | Yes |
| Load Frame Springs | N/A | Yes |
| True-Stress vs True-Plastic-Strain Curve Comparable to Conventional Tension Test | Yes Nondestructive (1) (2) |
No |
| Yield Strength | Yes Nondestructive (1) (2) |
No |
| Strain-Hardening Exponent (n) (uniform ductility) | Yes Nondestructive (1) (2) |
No |
| Strength Coefficient (K) | Yes Nondestructive (1) (2) |
No |
| Precision Values | Yes, complete 6-lab ILS per ASTM E691, ILS report submitted to ASTM E28 | Limited 1-lab, 1-machine (nano range), Berkovich indenter. No demonstrated inter-laboratory precision values. Machine was not verified and no calibration blocks used. |
| Fracture Toughness of Metals - Haggag Toughness Method (HTM) | Yes, nondestructive Determined from ball indentation deformation energy of metallic materials |
No |
| Elastic Modulus | Yes, Nondestructive (2) |
Indentation Modulus (3) * Indentation Modulus may or may not correlate to elastic modulus |
| Hardness | ABI Hardness | Yes - Martens Hardness from quasi-destructive pyramidal Berkovich indenter. Martens hardness cannot be obtained from spherical indenter (3) |
| Thin Films | N/A | Yes |
| Tribological Behavior | N/A | Yes |
| Ceramics | N/A | Yes |
REFERENCES
1. Haggag, F. M., “Field Indentation Microprobe for Structural Integrity Evaluation,” U.S. Patent No. 4,852,397, August 1, 1989.
2. Haggag, F. M. "Use of Automated Ball Indentation Testing to Measure Flow Properties and Estimate Fracture Toughness in Metallic Materials," ASTM STP 1092, 1990, pp. 188-208.
3. “Metallic materials – Instrumented indentation test for hardness and materials parameters,” ISO14577-1, 2, 3, 2002.
4. Hay, J. L. and G. M. Pharr, “Instrumented Indentation Testing,” eds. Howard Kuhn and Dana Medlin, ASM Handbook, Vol. 8, 2000.
5. Van Landingham, Mark, “Review of Instrumented Indentation,” Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Vol 108, No. 4, July-August 2003, pp. 249-265.
