Note: A method for minimizing oxide formation during elevated temperature nanoindentation

I C Cheng; E Garcia-Sanchez; A M Hodge

doi:10.1063/1.4895006

Note: A method for minimizing oxide formation during elevated temperature nanoindentation

Rev Sci Instrum. 2014 Sep;85(9):096106. doi: 10.1063/1.4895006.

Authors

I C Cheng¹, E Garcia-Sanchez¹, A M Hodge¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, 3650 McClintock Avenue OHE430, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA.

PMID: 25273792
DOI: 10.1063/1.4895006

Abstract

A standardized method to protect metallic samples and minimize oxide formation during elevated-temperature nanoindentation was adapted to a commercial instrument. Nanoindentation was performed on Al (100), Cu (100), and W (100) single crystals submerged in vacuum oil at 200 °C, while the surface morphology and oxidation was carefully monitored using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results were compared to room temperature and 200 °C nanoindentation tests performed without oil, in order to evaluate the feasibility of using the oil as a protective medium. Extensive surface characterization demonstrated that this methodology is effective for nanoscale testing.