Award Abstract #0321337
Acquisition of a Nanoindentor System for Micro/Nanosystems Research and Education Efforts

NSF Org:	CMMI Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation
Initial Amendment Date:	August 12, 2003
Latest Amendment Date:	August 12, 2003
Award Number:	0321337
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Perumalsamy N. Balaguru CMMI Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation ENG Directorate for Engineering
Start Date:	September 1, 2003
Expires:	August 31, 2004 (Estimated)
Awarded Amount to Date:	$266427
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)
Sponsor:	University of Colorado at Boulder 3100 Marine Street, Room 481 Boulder, CO 80309 303/492-6221
NSF Program(s):	MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
Field Application(s):	0308000 Industrial Technology
Program Reference Code(s):	CVIS, 7237, 1189, 1039
Program Element Code(s):	1189

ABSTRACT

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.