Testing the surface and thin-film mechanical properties of materials using an impact target

摘要

Apparatus and method for testing the surface properties, such as the hardness of a sample of material are disclosed. The apparatus includes an impact target 92 supported to have a default location and being resiliently moveable from the default location in a displacement direction. A sample holder 12 is provided to carry a sample 10 to be tested. A drive system 30 drives the sample 10 towards the target 92 at a known velocity, thereby causing the impact target 92 to be displaced from the default location in the displacement direction. A position measurement system 96 measures movement of the impact target in the displacement direction. Repeated impacts may be used to determine the effect of repeated loading of the sample. The sample holder 12 may be latched by latch assembly 40 against movement toward the impact target 92 while energy is stored in a spring 24, and subsequently unlatched to allow movement towards the impact target 92.