Nanoindentation is a technique that can be used to probe the mechanical properties of materials at the micron and submicron scales. As such, it has proven invaluable in the development of new structural materials, may of which are now based on microstructures with micron and submicron structural features. The technique is based on high resolution measurements of load and displacement as an indenter of well-prescribed geometry, usually a triangular pyramid or sphere, is driven into and withdrawn from the material. From these measurements, numerous mechanical properties can be derived that characterize the elastic, plastic, and fracture behavior of the material. Here, we focus on the ways that nanoindentation can be used to better understand and develop new structural materials. Examples are drawn from the design of new structural composites, understanding strengthening mechanisms in intermetallics, and development of combinatorial methods to expedite the alloy design process.

* Research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with UT-Battelle, LLC.