High-Resolution Acoustic Emission Monitoring in Nanomechanics

In many cases, the load-depth-time record in a nanomechanical or nanotribological test does not provide sufficient information, and subsequent microscopic imaging does not directly provide information on the dynamics of the process being studied. Analysis of the acoustic waves generated during these tests can overcome this drawback and offer a non-destructive way for obtaining complementary information. Acoustic waves emitted during mechanical tests at the nano/micro scale are a rich source of information about the deformation behavior that can otherwise be inaccessible by traditional methods. Analysis of acoustic emissions (AE) can provide a better understanding and more complex interpretation of nanomechanical and nanotribological results even at the nano/micro scale. In this study, the strength of an AE-based method is demonstrated for various types of materials, including hard SiC coatings, silicalite-1 zeolite microcrystals, Fe3Si bulk and partially stabilized zirconia explored using nano-indentation, nano-scratch tests and repetitive nano-impact tests.