Coating elastic–plastic properties determined by means of nanoindentations and FEM-supported evaluation algorithms

Abstract The fast and fully automated software “FANOS” (Fast Approach of stress–strain curves based on naNOindentationS) was applied to evaluate nanoindentation measurement results in order to determine stress–strain curves. Herein, laws describing the effect of the indentation load and depth on the developed stresses and strains are taken into account, deriving from the “SSCUBONI” (Stress Strain CUrves Based On NanoIndentation) algorithm. In this way, material's Young's modulus, yield strength and tangent moduli of plasticity can be defined. Characteristic results concerning various coatings elastic–plastic properties are introduced, obtained by means of the mentioned algorithms. A comparison was conducted between film Young's moduli determined by means of the previously mentioned algorithms and through existing analytical approximations of experimental nanoindentation results, demonstrating a sufficient convergence.