Nanoindentation of polymers

Nanoindentation is an important characterisation tool to probe local mechanical properties of a range of materials.  This project seeks to explore use of the nanoindentation to characterise polymer materials, with a focus on exploring radiation-cured acrylics.  This group of materials are exploited in a wide range of technologies in healthcare (e.g. dentistry), corrosion and abrasion resistance, packaging and flexible electronics as examples.  By focussing on this group of materials we can explore how the properties of the material are probed with nanoindentation without the complications such as residual solvent, residual strains or crystallinity that often cloud the interpretation of results on polymer materials.  Thus, the project seeks to create clear models and understanding for the interpretation of nanoindentation data that will allow it’s wider and more confident use of the technique for more complex and application-driven scenarios.