Multi-field nanoindentation apparatus for measuring local mechanical properties of materials in external magnetic and electric fields

Abstract

Nano/micro-scale mechanical properties of multiferroic materials can be controlled by the external magnetic or electric field due to the coupling interaction. For the first time, a modularized multi-field nanoindentation apparatus for carrying out testing on materials in external magnetostatic/electrostatic field is constructed. Technical issues, such as the application of magnetic/electric field and the processes to diminish the interference between external fields and the other parts of the apparatus, are addressed. Tests on calibration specimen indicate the feasibility of the apparatus. The load-displacement curves of ferromagnetic, ferroelectric and magnetoelectric materials in the presence/absence of external fields reveal the small-scale magnetomechanical and electromechanical coupling, showing as the Delta-E and Delta-H effects, i.e. the magnetic/electric field induced changes in the apparent elastic modulus and indentation hardness.

17 pages, 7 figures

References in corpus (2)

• Electromechanical Detection in Scanning Probe Microscopy: Tip Models and Materials Contrast
• Domain Nucleation and Hysteresis Loop Shape in Piezoresponse Force Spectroscopy

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Electric-field-tunable mechanical properties of relaxor ferroelectric single crystal measured by nanoindentation
• Magnetic Field Tunable Small-scale Mechanical Properties of Nickel Single Crystals Measured by Nanoindentation Technique
• Resistive-nanoindentation on gold: Experiments and modeling of the electrical contact resistance