ASTM E2546-15

Standard Practice for Instrumented Indentation Testing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 IIT Instruments are used to quantitatively measure various mechanical properties of thin coatings and other volumes of material when other traditional methods of determining material properties cannot be used due to the size or condition of the sample. This practice will establish the basic requirements for those instruments. It is intended that IIT based test methods will be able to refer to this practice for the basic requirements for force and displacement accuracy, reproducibility, verification, reporting, etc., that are necessary for obtaining meaningful test results.  
5.2 IIT is not restricted to specific test forces, displacement ranges, or indenter types. This practice covers the requirements for a wide range of nano, micro, and macro (see ISO 14577-1) indentation testing applications. The various IIT instruments are required to adhere to the requirements of the practice within their specific design ranges.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice defines the basic steps of Instrumented Indentation Testing (IIT) and establishes the requirements, accuracies, and capabilities needed by an instrument to successfully perform the test and produce the data that can be used for the determination of indentation hardness and other material characteristics. IIT is a mechanical test that measures the response of a material to the imposed stress and strain of a shaped indenter by forcing the indenter into a material and monitoring the force on, and displacement of, the indenter as a function of time during the full loading-unloading test cycle.  
1.2 The operational features of an IIT instrument, as well as requirements for Instrument Verification (Annex A1), Standardized Reference Blocks (Annex A2) and Indenter Requirements (Annex A3) are defined. This practice is not intended to be a complete purchase specification for an IIT instrument.  
1.3 With the exception of the non-mandatory Appendix X4, this practice does not define the analysis necessary to determine material properties. That analysis is left for other test methods. Appendix X4 includes some basic analysis techniques to allow for the indirect performance verification of an IIT instrument by using test blocks.  
1.4 Zero point determination, instrument compliance determination and the indirect determination of an indenter’s area function are important parts of the IIT process. The practice defines the requirements for these items and includes non-mandatory appendixes to help the user define them.  
1.5 The use of deliberate lateral displacements is not included in this practice (that is, scratch testing).  
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2015
• ICS: 19.100 - Non-destructive testing
• Technical Committee: E28 - Mechanical Testing
• Drafting Committee: E28.06 - Indentation Hardness Testing

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E2546 − 15
Standard Practice for
1
Instrumented Indentation Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2546; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This practice defines the basic steps of Instrumented
Indentation Testing (IIT) and establishes the requirements,
2. Referenced Documents
accuracies, and capabilities needed by an instrument to suc-
2
cessfully perform the test and produce the data that can be used 2.1 ASTM Standards:
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
for the determination of indentation hardness and other mate-
E74 Practices for Calibration and Verification for Force-
rial characteristics. IIT is a mechanical test that measures the
Measuring Instruments
response of a material to the imposed stress and strain of a
E92 Test Methods for Vickers Hardness and Knoop Hard-
shaped indenter by forcing the indenter into a material and
ness of Metallic Materials
monitoring the force on, and displacement of, the indenter as a
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
function of time during the full loading-unloading test cycle.
ASTM Test Methods
1.2 The operational features of an IIT instrument, as well as
E384 Test Method for Microindentation Hardness of Mate-
requirements for Instrument Verification (Annex A1), Stan-
rials
dardized Reference Blocks (Annex A2) and Indenter Require-
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
ments (Annex A3) are defined. This practice is not intended to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
be a complete purchase specification for an IIT instrument.
E1875 Test Method for Dynamic Young’s Modulus, Shear
1.3 With the exception of the non-mandatory Appendix X4,
Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio by Sonic Resonance
this practice does not define the analysis necessary to deter-
E1876 Test Method for Dynamic Young’s Modulus, Shear
mine material properties. That analysis is left for other test
Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio by Impulse Excitation of
methods. Appendix X4 includes some basic analysis tech-
Vibration
niques to allow for the indirect performance verification of an
2.2 American Bearing Manufacturers Association Stan-
IIT instrument by using test blocks.
dard:
1.4 Zero point determination, instrument compliance deter-
ABMA/ISO 3290-1 Rolling Bearings- Balls-Part 1: Steel
3
mination and the indirect determination of an indenter’s area
Metal Balls
function are important parts of the IIT process. The practice
2.3 ISO Standards:
defines the requirements for these items and includes non-
ISO 14577-1, -2, -3, -4 Metallic Materials—Instrumented
mandatory appendixes to help the user define them. 4
Indentation Tests for Hardness and Material Properties
1.5 The use of deliberate lateral displacements is not in- ISO 376 Metallic Materials—Calibration of Force-Proving
cluded in this practice (that is, scratch testing). Instruments for the Verification of Uniaxial Testing Ma-
4
chines
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3. Terminology
standard.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on Mechanical the ASTM website.
3
Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on Indentation Available from American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA), 2025
Hardness Testing. M Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036, http://www.americanbearings.org.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015. Published December 2015. Originally
ɛ1 4
approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E2546–07 . DOI: Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/E2546-15. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2546 − 15
3.1.1 contac
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: E2546 − 07 E2546 − 15
Standard Practice for
1
Instrumented Indentation Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2546; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Fig. X1.7 was editorially corrected in September 2015.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This practice defines the basic steps of Instrumented Indentation Testing (IIT) and establishes the requirements, accuracies,
and capabilities needed by an instrument to successfully perform the test and produce the data that can be used for the
determination of indentation hardness and other material characteristics. IIT is a mechanical test that measures the response of a
material to the imposed stress and strain of a shaped indenter by forcing the indenter into a material and monitoring the force on,
and displacement of, the indenter as a function of time during the full loading-unloading test cycle.
1.2 The operational features of an IIT instrument, as well as requirements for Instrument Verification (Annex A1), Standardized
Reference Blocks (Annex A2) and Indenter Requirements (Annex A3) are defined. This practice is not intended to be a complete
purchase specification for an IIT instrument.
1.3 With the exception of the non-mandatory Appendix X4, this practice does not define the analysis necessary to determine
material properties. That analysis is left for other test methods. Appendix X4 includes some basic analysis techniques to allow for
the indirect performance verification of an IIT instrument by using test blocks.
1.4 Zero point determination, instrument compliance determination and the indirect determination of an indenter’s area function
are important parts of the IIT process. The practice defines the requirements for these items and includes non-mandatory
appendixes to help the user define them.
1.5 The use of deliberate lateral displacements is not included in this practice (that is, scratch testing).
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
E74 Practice of Calibration of Force-Measuring Instruments for Verifying the Force Indication of Testing Machines
3
E92 Test Method for Vickers Hardness of Metallic Materials (Withdrawn 2010)
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E384 Test Method for Knoop and Vickers Hardness of Materials
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E1875 Test Method for Dynamic Young’s Modulus, Shear Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio by Sonic Resonance
E1876 Test Method for Dynamic Young’s Modulus, Shear Modulus, and Poisson’s Ratio by Impulse Excitation of Vibration
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E28 on Mechanical Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E28.06 on Indentation Hardness
Testing.
Current edition approved July 15, 2007Oct. 1, 2015. Published July 2007December 2015. Originally approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as
ɛ1
E2546–07 . DOI: 10.1520/E2546-07.10.1520/E2546-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2546 − 15
2.2 American Bearings ManufacturerBearing Manufacturers Association Standard:
4
ABMA 10-1988ABMA/ISO 3290-1 Rolling Bearings- Balls-Part 1: Steel Metal Balls
2.3 ISO Standards:
5
ISO 14577-1, -2, -3, -4 Metallic Materials—Instrumented Indentation Tests
...