nanoindenter (scientific instruments, <equipment for science and technology>, ... Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name))
Note: A scientific instrument used in nanoindentation testing, designed to measure the mechanical properties (specifically the elastic modulus and viscoelasticity) of soft samples on a submicroscopic scale. The indenter takes a small diamond probe, which is shaped as either a pyramid or a sphere and pushes the diamond tip into the surface of the material being tested. The depth of indentation can range from nanometer to a maximum of 4 microns. By measuring the force required to push the diamond tip into the material compared to the depth of the indentation, the instrument can determine the hardness of the sample. Seeing to what degree the material returns to its previous shape determines its elastic modulus - the stiffness of its atomic bonds.
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