Award Abstract #0321337
Acquisition of a Nanoindentor System for Micro/Nanosystems Research and Education Efforts
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NSF Org: |
CMMI
Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation
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Initial Amendment Date: |
August 12, 2003 |
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Latest Amendment Date: |
August 12, 2003 |
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Award Number: |
0321337 |
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Award Instrument: |
Standard Grant |
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Program Manager: |
Perumalsamy N. Balaguru
CMMI Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation
ENG Directorate for Engineering
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Start Date: |
September 1, 2003 |
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Expires: |
August 31, 2004 (Estimated) |
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Awarded Amount to Date: |
$266427 |
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Investigator(s): |
Martin Dunn Martin.Dunn@Colorado.edu (Principal Investigator)
Steven George (Co-Principal Investigator) Michael Stowell (Co-Principal Investigator) Victor Bright (Co-Principal Investigator) Kenneth Gall (Co-Principal Investigator)
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Sponsor: |
University of Colorado at Boulder
3100 Marine Street, Room 481
Boulder, CO 80309 303/492-6221
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NSF Program(s): |
MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
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Field Application(s): |
0308000 Industrial Technology
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Program Reference Code(s): |
CVIS, 7237, 1189, 1039
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Program Element Code(s): |
1189
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ABSTRACT
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This proposal to acquire a nanoindentor system from MTS corporation to support exciting and diverse
research and training at the intersection of nano and microsystems technology. In its
base configuration, the load resolution is 50 nN and the displacement resolution is 0.01 nm. These can be
significantly lowered to 1 nN and 0.0002 nm, respectively with an additional indentation head. The
nanoindentor is typically used to indent (push the tip into) a material while simultaneously measuring the
load and displacement. The concept is common to many techniques in materials characterization, except
that the mode of deformation is extremely complicated. However, with suitable analysis, typically via the
finite element method, the measured load vs. displacement curve can be inverted to infer a host of
important material properties. Because the measurement area is so small (on the order of 100s of nms),
the instrument is ideally suited to obtain quantitative information regarding mechanical properties as a
function of position in complex material systems and structures.
The nanoindentor will be the heart of a unique micro/nanomechanical characterization facility at the
University of Colorado (CU). It will greatly impact numerous diverse research efforts that are currently
supported including applications in the characterization of advanced materials, experimental mechanics of
micromechanical structures and devices, studies of biological materials/systems ranging from protein/cell
structure up to full arteries, and as a nanomanufacturing tool for the development of nanoscale circuits
using biomolecular templates.
Initially the nanoindentor will be used by the groups of 12 faculty members, spanning six
Departments and three Colleges at CU. It will be used to support research projects and instructional
activities at the graduate and undergraduate levels. A number of activities are planned to increase our
user base and the overall level of diverse expertise with the instrument. These include: i) the development
of a Micro/nanosystems Forum in which two types speakers will be solicited: those with expertise in
nanoindentation and related fields, and those with interesting research activities that may be able to make
use of the nanoindentor; ii) the development of a website devoted to activities using the nanoindentor; iii)
dissemination of capabilities and results, along with the solicitation of potential collaborative users at
semiannual meetings of our NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (CAMPmode and
MAST); iv) a user-fee structure that requires users to disseminate their results to our user community; and
v) a plan to recruit new users, particularly underrepresented groups and women pursuing advanced
degrees.
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
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