Advanced In‑Situ SEM Nanomechanical Characterization with the PI 89 SEM PicoIndenter

Advanced approaches to SEM-based nanomechanical characterization

This webinar will bring together two expert-led presentations focused on in-situ SEM nanomechanical characterization. The speakers will discuss high strain rate nanoindentation and nanoscale mechanical testing approaches used to probe deformation mechanisms. Examples will highlight how these methods support fundamental and applied materials research.

Attendees will learn about:

• High strain rate nanomechanical testing using the PI 89 SEM PicoIndenter
• In‑situ mechanical characterization of heterogeneous microstructures
• Research on nanoscale testing applied to metallic and composite systems

This webinar will feature two presentations. The first will discuss experiments and results from high strain rate nanoindentation of tungsten using the PI 89 PicoIndenter across room, elevated, and cryogenic temperatures. The second presentation will focus on deformation mechanisms in additively manufactured composite microstructures, with emphasis on binary model systems, such as Al–Si and Fe–Cu.

High Strain Rate Nanoindentation using Hysitron PI 89 SEM PicoIndenter

High strain rate nanoindentation presents additional challenges compared to quasistatic testing, including the need for high-speed electronics, rapid feedback control, well-characterized system dynamics, and advanced analysis techniques. It is essential for understanding material behavior under conditions relevant to real-world applications, such as impacts in automotive and aerospace environments. In this work, we present experimental results from high strain rate nanoindentation of tungsten using the PI 89 PicoIndenter across a wide temperature range, including room, elevated, and cryogenic conditions.

Nanomechanical Characterization of Nanoscale Composites

Nanomechanical characterization using Bruker’s Hysitron instruments to elucidate deformation mechanisms in additive manufactured composite microstructures in binary model systems, such as Al-Si and Fe-Cu, will be presented. Direct-pull in-situ tension and micro-compression in a scanning electron microscope, integrated with postmortem scanning transmission electron microscopy and atomistic modeling are shown to be effective in the measurement of strength, strain hardening, and plastic deformability and fundamental understanding of novel dislocation mechanisms. 

Speaker: Amit Misra, Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan

Prof. Amit Misra is the Edward DeMille Campbell Collegiate Professor of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) at the University of Michigan (UM), Ann Arbor. He served as MSE Department Chair at UM from 2014-2022. Prior to joining UM in 2014, he worked for nearly 18 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). He received is PhD (MSE) degree from University of Michigan in 1994 and Bachler's (Metallurgical Engineering from IT-BHU (now IIT-Varanasi), India. His research expertise includes metallic materials processing by physical vapor deposition, laser additive manufacturing and deformation processing, small-scale mechanical testing and characterization using scanning and transmission electron microscopy including in situ nanomechanics. He is a Fellow of TMS, MRS, ASM-International, AAAS and LANL, and was recognized with TMS Cyril Stanley Smith Award, TMS Brimacombe Medalist, TMS-MPMD Distinguished Scientist/Engineer Award; and TMS-MPMD Distinguished Service Award.

Speaker: Kevin Schmalbach, Ph.D., Staff Scientist, Nanoindentation Unit, Bruker

Kevin earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2022, where his thesis focused on the effects of temperature and strain rate in tungsten. He joined Bruker as a postdoctoral scientist in the Applications Group before transitioning to the Research and Development team as an instrumentation scientist. In this role, he played a key role in developing the PI 89 Auto capabilities as well as supporting hardware innovation and technique development for nanoindentation. He has recently advanced to a staff scientist position within the Applications Group.