Objectives   

• Understand the basics of instrumented indentation testing and its use in relation to conventional indentation techniques.
• Design and perform indentation experiments which are suited to the sample material and its surface characteristics.
• Recognize unusual material behaviors and understand how to adapt experimental parameters.
• Interpret indentation data in order to extract meaningful and valid values of mechanical properties with high level of confidence.
• Identify potential measurement artifacts and adapt test parameters accordingly.
• Understand measurement uncertainties and how to minimize them.
• Appreciate the variation of surface mechanical properties as a function of depth or spatial distribution and understand how to focus on specific layers, phases or inclusions in a heterogeneous material.
• Ability to interpret relevant applications and case studies, such as: common coating-substrate combinations, multiphase materials, composites, surface-modified layers, and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices.
• Recognize currently applicable industrial standards and be able to adapt such test methodologies to own  specific application.

Topics

• Introduction, including basic indentation theory
• Basic experimental 
• Advanced experimental
• Research methods  
• Applications of instrumented indentation
• Comparison of techniques
• Overview of industrial standards
• Testing of coatings