Indentation and Scratch Tester SMT-5000
ISO compliant instrumented indentation and scratch tester. Combined with an in-line 3D profiler and film thickness probe for comprehensive surface analysis.
Manufacturer
Rtec Instruments
Rtec Instruments develops and manufactures advanced mechanical and surface testing and measurement solutions for research and industrial applications. They specialise in combining techniques that provide a unique perspective in material testing. Their testers include tribometer, profilometer, scratch tester, high-temperature indenter, and corrosion testers. Furthermore, their testers provide the most robust and versatile platform in the market for testing friction, wear, adhesion, hardness, roughness, and film thickness from nano to macro-scale.
Indentation & Scratch Tester SMT-5000
The Surface Mechanical Tester SMT-5000 is a versatile instrument. It merges the ability to measure mechanical properties, such as hardness, modulus, scratch adhesion, film thickness, in addition to surface roughness and many others. All this power is consolidated in one single platform. To that end, the IST module provides both indentation and scratch. Combining piezo actuation and capacitive sensing technologies, the IST brings the highest precision measurements from nano to micro ranges.
Besides the IST module, the SMT 5000 incorporates spectral reflectance film thickness with 3D profilometry and environmental modules. All these capacities cater to demanding engineers and researchers in many fields.
Key Features
- Unique combination of indentation, scratch, profilometer & film thickness testing on one automatic platform
- Patented piezo and capacitive sensor technology
- Patented image correlation between scratch data and 3D images
- Nano, micro indentation and scratch tests on same platform using fast exchange heads
A Surface Material Tester Like No Other
Customize the SMT-5000 To Fit Your Needs
A) Combination of Indentation and Scratch Module
The IST module combines indentation and scratch testing capabilities in one single module.
B) Patented In-line Profilometer
3D profiler automatically combines high resolution surface topography with indentation and scratch data.
C) Lower automated XY Stage
The high precision cross-roller XY stage yields smooth and very accurate test positioning.
D) Non Destructive Film Thickness
Based on spectroscopic reflectance, film thickness measurement (FT-100) module provides a super fast and direct non contact film measurement.
E) Upper Z Structure
High precision multiple Z drives with high resolution encoders to move testing and inspection modules.
F) Platform
Open platform architecture for superior modular testing and ease of use.
Instrumented Indentation Tester
- Easily interchangeable indentation head covering multiple load ranges from mN to 40N
- Unmatched performance with patented capacitive sensor technology
- Berkovich, Vickers, Spherical, Cube Corner, Knoop, various diamond indenter tips, and more
- Standard Vickers hardness or other traditional micro indentation scales
Scratch Testing
- Piezo actuator for precise down motion during scratch test
- The best friction force sensitivity on the market owing to normal and tangential force sensors located in the head
- Multiple testing ranges from nano to macro on one platform. Easily interchangeable scratch heads.
- Tests in various environments. (Temperature, humidity, corrosion and many more).
- Measurement on flat or curved surface.
Automatic Stitching of In-line 3D Images
Scratch Data Visualisation. Complete failure analysis and correlation to scratch data.
The complete 3D image of the scratch is obtained via automatic post-test imaging. The critical loads are easily positioned on the 3D panorama. In addition to the critical loads, the typical measurements enabled by this 3D imaging include scratch volume, penetration, residual deformation, roughness, and volume wear.
Load Profile and Custom Motions
Load Profiles: constant, linear or user defined load profiles. The applied normal force and resulting friction forces measured using precise NIST traceable sensors.
Versatile XY Stage: The automatic XY stage can perform multiple scratch on single or multiple samples automatically. Scratch tests can be customize to achieve any motion profile such as straight, curved, circle, zigzag, and more.
Left Image: Indentation With Rockwell Tip
Right Image: Scratch With Cutting Tool
Non Destructive Film Thickness Measurement
Ultra fast coating thickness determination
The film thickness measurement module uses spectral reflectance to obtain the thickness of a coated surfaces.
- Extensive materials library (500+).
- Real-time, one-click measurement and analysis of thickness, n&k and roughness measurement.
- Ease of use, no expert knowledge required.
- Powerful analysis package scaling correction, multi-sample measurement, and dynamic measurement.
Patented Integrated Four Mode Profilometer
The profilometer is optimised to image scratch and indentation marks with high resolutions. Automatic multiple imaging modes selection to image any sample surface – transparent, glass, mirror, rough, smooth, steep slope, and much more with ease.
1) Dark Field Mode
Allows detection of cracks at the surface with notable contrast.
2) White Light Interferometer Mode
Allows high resolution images of flat surfaces.
3) Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope Mode
Measures steep slopes, transparent, dark or rough surfaces.
4) Bright Field Mode
2D profiles with high resolution and real colours.
Sensors and Chambers
Application specific solutions
Environmental chambers and a variety of sensors create numerous test variations that replicate real-life scenarios.
- Electrical Contact Resistance Identifies the coating failure point via the measure of the electrical resistance change during the scratch.
- Acoustic Emission Identifies brittle material failures by measuring the shock vibrations during the scratch.
- Corrosion Setup Allows scratch corrosion studies.
- Environmental Chambers Temperature, Humidity, and More.
- Additional Sensors Various sensors on coating scratch adhesion tester provides more information during the test.
Correlation of Deformation, Failure, and Surface Morphology Data
Pre & Post Test Image
Automatic surface deformation assessment with the comparison of before and after 3D images of the surface.
Scratch Test
Single or multiple scratches can be performed using predefined recipes.
Continuous Cross Profiler Analysis
Cross profiles measurements are available anywhere along the scratch.
Report
A simple and customisable report is generated with 3D images correlated to scratch data. Moreover each critical load is presented with separate zoomed images. Additionally other measures such as friction roughness, residual depth, volume wear, and permanent deformation are also provided.
Industries
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Bio-materials
- Ceramics
- Hard Coating
- Metal
- Optics and Glasses
- Pharmaceutical
- Polymer
- Semicon
Applications
Cohesion And Adhesion Of Hard Coatings
Varying in their composition, hard coatings are typically used to harden the surface of a product. They can be nitrides (Titanium nitride, TiN), carbides (Tungsten carbide, WC) or other types (Diamond like carbon, DLC). Their functionality goes beyond the simple hardening, some are used to protect against corrosion, reduce the wear of a part or avoid the formation of blood clot on materials in contact with blood. They are applied to many different substrates with many different techniques.
Clear Coat And Paint Testing
Studies have found that 50% or more of consumer complaints regarding the aspect of cars were associated with scratch, mar, and chip imperfections. Therefore, any improvement to the automotive paints would extend the long-term appearance of cars, reduce warranty claims, and increase the resale value. The improvement of scratch-resistant automotive clear coats has become a high research priority in the automotive industry.
Scratch Resistance of Strengthened Glass
Indentation and scratch testers provide new and accurate techniques to analyse scratch resistance of glass for any application. Since its introduction in 2008, the Corning® Gorilla® glass has been an omnipresent glass in the smartphone’s screens. The introduction of the Victus® version of Gorilla® glass in 2020 shows that the development of such materials is a continuous effort. In addition of the consumer electronics that brought them to common knowledge, these products are also used in industrial, automotive, aviation, architectural and pharmaceutical applications.
Scratch Testing of Thermal Spray Coatings
Thermal spraying is a coating technique in which melted material is projected onto a surface to coat it. Compared to other deposition techniques, the thermal sprays offer the ability to cover large area at high deposition rates and provide thicker coatings. Thermal sprays are used in various industries such as aerospace, automobile, marine and heavy machinery. The applications for those coatings cover wear and abrasion resistance, low friction, corrosion protection, altering thermal and electrical conductivity and many others.
Wear Resistance of Screen Protector Tempered Glass
Smartphone screen protectors are most of the time made from tempered glass with a polymer backing. But when searching for one of those screen protectors, the question always arises: which one is better? All the products claim the same hardness and high wear resistance. But are all these tempered glass products truly similar in terms of wear? The main cause of scratches or wear are metallic objects such as keys and dust including sand particles (quartz) that damage those screen protectors the most.
Scratch Hard Coating Quality Control
Different methods of testing have been used for the characterisation of the mechanical properties of hard coatings. Tribological measurements provide useful information on the essential properties related to their final use in real applications. Instrumented indentation testing provides information on hardness and elastic modulus of the coatings. Scratch testing is measuring the adhesion and scratch resistance of coatings and providing unmatched information on the mechanical integrity of the coating-substrate system.
Instrumented Indentation
Hardness testers have evolved over time and they now provide different hardness scales for different materials and applications. A new technique proposed in 1992 called Instrumented Indentation Testing provides both indentation hardness and elastic modulus of the material tested, taking the hardness test a step further.
Downloads
Indentation and Scratch Tester SMT-5000 Brochure
Surface and Materials Testers Product Overview Brochure
Indentation & Scratch Tester SMT-5000
The Surface Mechanical Tester SMT-5000 is a versatile instrument. It merges the ability to measure mechanical properties, such as hardness, modulus, scratch adhesion, film thickness, in addition to surface roughness and many others. All this power is consolidated in one single platform. To that end, the IST module provides both indentation and scratch. Combining piezo actuation and capacitive sensing technologies, the IST brings the highest precision measurements from nano to micro ranges.
Besides the IST module, the SMT 5000 incorporates spectral reflectance film thickness with 3D profilometry and environmental modules. All these capacities cater to demanding engineers and researchers in many fields.
Service Support
Comprehensive repairs and servicing
Annual Support Programs
Your metrology instrumentation is a major investment that is critical to your business operation and success. In today’s competitive climate, it is more important than ever to extend the functionality and peak performance of your metrology equipment years beyond the expiration of your factory warranty. CN Tech’s Support Programs will help ensure that your investment is protected, and that you and your instrument’s are always operating at peak performance.
With over 20 years’ experience servicing and repairing you can be assured that your system is in safe hands. The independent services we offer include system relocation, maintenance visits, parts and consumables, and break down interventions.
CN Tech’s Support Programs are an economical way to guarantee optimal working condition:
- Annual Preventive Maintenance
- Priority Technical Assistance
- Preferred Parts Availability
- On-Site User Training
- Remote Diagnostics
- No surprise repair expense and much more!
Support Contact Example
An example of our service and support contracts are shown below:
Metrology & Instrumentation Annual Support Programs 2024/25
CN Tech's Support Programs will help ensure that your investment is protected, and that you and your instrument’s are always operating at peak performance.