Skip to content

ALL PRODUCTS

iX05

Ultra-fast nanoindentation
in operando conditions

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE CONTACT US

iX05 nanoindenter, a standalone MEMS-based nanoindenter for material property analysis in a wide range of operando conditions: high-temperature nanoindentation. low-temperature nanoindentation, high strain rates nanoindentation ...

iX05 nanoindenter for material property analysis in operando conditions. Isometric view with vacuum chamber closed.
iX05 nanoindenter for material property analysis in operando conditions. Isometric view with vacuum chamber open.
iX05 nanoindenter for material property analysis in operando conditions. Frontal view with vacuum chamber closed and open.
iX05 nanoindenter for material property analysis in operando conditions. A particular view of the force sensing unit.

The iX05 is an operando nanoindenter. It is designed to measure local mechanical properties in real-world conditions such as high temperatures, low temperatures, high strain rates, or in liquid environments.

Traditional nanoindenters are optimized to measure materials in laboratory conditions. However, materials in practical applications often experience extreme environments that strongly influence their mechanical behavior. The iX05 is optimized to test materials in conditions representative of their targeted application. 

The iX05 combines the high resolution and speed offered by MEMS-based technology with fast control electronics and environment control, making it the ultimate tool for measuring and visualizing mechanical properties of materials in a wide range of testing conditions.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores-

At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat.

Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore.

Key Features

  • 01 Operando Nanoindentation
  • 02 Ultra-Fast Nanoindentation
  • 02 Ultra-High Resolution
Glowing MEMS-based force sensing nanoindentation probe.

 

The iX05 operando nanoindentation system offers high-temperature testing up to +800°C and cryo-temperature testing down to -150°C. It features a motorized chamber with environment control for testing in an inert gas atmosphere or high vacuum, minimizing oxidation and contamination.

-150 °C to +800 °C 
Temperature range

down to 5 10-4 mBar
Operating pressure

 

SEM micro-image of MEMS force sensor for nanoindenter.

 

The iX05 offers ultra-fast nanoindentation capabilities, allowing nanoindentation mapping at up to 30 indentations per second. It delivers unmatched performance at high speeds by combining FemtoTools MEMS force sensors with ultra-fast electronics to provide sampling rate of 2 MHz and feedback frequency of 500 kHz. 

up to 2N 
Temperature range

down to 100 pn
Force noise floor (at 10 Hz)

 

P_FTI04_KF03_High-resolution_241202

 

The iX05 offers ultra-high resolution nanoindentation capabilities, to detect even the smallest variations in hardness and elastic modulus. It features displacement sensing with a noise floor below 5 pm over a range of 20 um, spanning 7 orders of magnitude. The instrument also includes interchangeable MEMS-based force sensors for SI-traceable force metrology, ranging from 100 pN (noise floor) to 2 N, covering 10 orders of magnitude. To ensure accuracy and precision, the iX05 comes with automated, high-precision calibration procedures, allowing for seamless use. 

Testing modes

SEM image of Berkovich indentations revealing mechanical properties of a material via nanoindentation.
Read More

Nanoindentation

Nanoindentation assesses the local mechanical behavior of a material by pressing a sharp tip into its surface and measuring the force needed to create an indent. This technique measures local mechanical properties (including hardness, elastic modulus, strain rate sensitivity, and others) directly from the material's response.

READ MORE ->

Read More
Nanoindentation mapping of nodular cast iron structure, showing the usage of a hardness map obtained by nanoindentation a microscope.
Read More

Mechanical Microscopy

Nanoindentation mapping, or mechanical microscopy, employs a nanoindenter in a microscope-like manner. It enables the mapping of mechanical properties of intricate microstructures in minutes, thanks to the integration of rapid indentation speeds and precise spatial resolution.

READ MORE ->

Read More
Correlative mechanical microscopy images overlaying mechanical and elemental data.
Read More

Correlative Mechanical Microscopy

Correlative mechanical microscopy merges nanoindentation with additional microscopy methods. This integration of various data layers enables precise phase identification by including elemental or crystallographic analysis in the mechanical measurement.

READ MORE ->

Read More
Example of strain rate dependent testing by strain rate jump analysis (SRJ).
Read More

Strain-Rate Control

Time, like temperature, is a key parameter for materials deformation. Speed determines the active deformation mechanism. Strain-rate control during testing achieves the most consistent results and allows exploring the material's response from creep to impact, even within a single indent.

READ MORE ->

Read More
Close-up view of nanoindentation test with a glowing indenter tip during high-temperature testing.
Read More

High-Temperature Testing

Temperature changes the mechanical behavior of materials. It is crucial for assessing operando mechanical properties, under conditions close to their target application. Using precision MEMS heating to achieve rapid temperature matching and thermal control, stable measurements can be performed even at high temperatures.

READ MORE ->

Read More
Scratch test topography providing quantitative data on material hardness and wear resistance.
Read More

Scratch Testing

Scratch is a critical method for assessing materials’ adhesion, hardness, and resistance to wear - especially for coatings. It provides quantitative data on material durability and performance by scribing a hard tip across the surface and measuring the required force and the resulting topography.

READ MORE ->

Read More
Close-up of a spherical ruby indenter tip used for soft material characterization.
Read More

Soft Materials Testing

Polymers, metamaterials, or bio-inspired materials are critical for modern technologies. Analysis of these soft materials requires systems capable of both large displacements and high force resolution.

READ MORE ->

Read More

Application notes

Mechanical Microscopy of Surface Treatments

Correlated Mechanical Microscopy of Compositional Gradients (with EDX)

Nanoindentation of Thin Films: Advantages of CSM

Influence of Oscillation Amplitudes on Nanoindentation

Correlated Mechanical Microscopy with EBSD and EDX for Complex Microstructures

Accessories

  • 01 High-Temperature Module
  • 02 Cryogenic Testing Module
  • 03 Scratch Testing Module
  • 04 Ultra-Fast Mapping Module
  • 05 Microforce Sensing Probes
  • 06 Two-Axis Microforce Probes
  • 07 High-Temperature Probes

High-temperature module for nanoindentation tests up to 800°C in high vacuum conditions.


High-Temperature Module

The High Temperature Module enables heating of specimens up to 800°C. In combination with the FemtoTools Microforce sensing Probes with active tip-heating, it makes isothermal nanomechanical testing of samples at various temperatures easy to perform.
B
y performing tests in high vacuum, the oxygen content can be reduced by a factor of one million compared to systems that use inert gas preventing unwanted oxidation.

Cryogenic testing module for nanoindentation tests at low temperatures down to -150 °C in high vacuum conditions.


Cryogenic Testing Module

The Cryogenic Temperature Module uses liquid nitrogen as a cooling agent to achieve temperatures as low as -150°C, allowing experiments to be conducted at extremely low temperatures. By operating under high-vacuum conditions, the iX05 effectively prevents condensation-related issues, ensuring smooth and reliable experimentation at cryogenic temperatures.

Sample stage with piezoscanner and 2-axis microforce sensing probe for scratch material testing.


Scratch Testing Module

Combining an exchangeable sample stage with a piezoscanner and a FemtoTools 2-Axis Microforce Sensing Probe enables advanced techniques, such as nano-scratch and nano-wear testing, as well as SPM imaging, by facilitating the in-plane movement of the sample while simultaneously applying a normal force.

READ MORE

The ultra-fast mapping module for high-resolution maps with over 90’000 indents in under an hour.


Ultra-Fast Mapping Module

The ultra-fast mapping module boosts the speed of indentation from 3 indents per second to up to 30 indents per second, enabling the generation of high-resolution maps with over 90’000 indents in under an hour. The specialized sample stage is essential for rapidly accelerating, stopping, stabilizing, performing the nanoindentation measurement, and then accelerating to the next indent position in under 33 milliseconds, all while maintaining exceptional accuracy.

FT-S Microforce Sensing Probe, versatile in measuring forces with various tip options.


Microforce Sensing Probes 

The Microforce Sensing Probes are sensors capable of measuring forces from sub-nanonewton to 2 newtons along the sensor’s probe axis. They are available with a wide variety of tip materials and geometries, including diamond Berkovich, cube corner, flat punch, wedge, conical, and more. 

READ MORE

FT-S Microforce Sensing Probe, versatile in measuring forces with 2-axis movement.


Two-Axis Microforce Sensing Probes 

The  Microforce Sensing Probes are Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based multi-axis microforce sensors capable of simultaneous measuring forces in the two in-plane directions. The primary application for these sensors is nano-scratch, nano-tribology and nano-wear testing. 

READ MORE

FT-S Microforce Sensing Probe, versatile in measuring forces with high temperature capabilities.


High-Temperature Microforce Sensing Probes 

The  High-Temperature Microforce Sensing Probes are Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based microforce sensors capable of measuring forces from 200mN to 2 µN. Furthermore, with the monolithically integrated tip heater, the temperature of the nanoindenter tip can be accurately matched to the temperature of the sample, enabling isothermal testing conditions. 

READ MORE

footer-cta

Nanoindentation Revolutionized: Unleashing the Power of Tomorrow's Technology

CONTACT US