Microscratch test indenter

Abstract

An indenter for microscratch test of durability properties of the materials, including resistance of coating films to delamination. The blade-like indenter has a prism-like body defined by a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. The first lateral side and the second lateral side converge and form at their intersection an edge that extends from the front side to the rear side. An angle between the edge and the front side is sharp, and an angle between the first lateral side and the second lateral side is rounded with a radius. During the test, the blade-like indenter is installed at selected angles of attack to the surface of the test material; a relative movement is created between the indenter and the test material with simultaneous mechanical, electrical, and acoustical measurements. Analysis of the test results has confirmed that the micro-blade of the invention with two variable attack angles is the most effective indenter for both scratch resistance and adhesion evaluations, as compared to conventional indenters, such as sharp conical tips.

1 . A microscratch test blade-like indenter comprising a prism-like body defined by a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said first lateral side and said second lateral side converging and forming at their intersection an edge that extends from said front side to said rear side, an angle between said edge and said front side being sharp, and an angle between said first lateral side and said second lateral side being rounded with a radius.  
     
     
         2 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 1 , wherein said angle between said edge and said front side is within the range of 10° to 160°.  
     
     
         3 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 1 , wherein said angle between said first lateral side and said second lateral side is within the range of 15° 0  to 170°.  
     
     
         4 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 1 , wherein said radius is within the range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 1 , wherein said radius is within the range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 1 , wherein said indenter is made of an electrically conductive material.  
     
     
         7 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 2 , wherein said indenter is made of an electrically conductive material.  
     
     
         8 . The microscratch test blade-like indenter of  claim 3 , wherein said indenter is made of an electrically conductive material.