The nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (nanoDMA) technique is accomplished on a nanoindenter with a dynamic mechanical testing package and heating/cooling stage. It is performed by superimposing a small sinusoidal load on top of a larger quasi-static load during a nanoindentation test. The resultant total indentation displacement into the sample, the dynamic displacement amplitude, and the phase shift from the dynamic load input are recorded and analyzed to yield storage modulus, loss modulus, tangent delta and other mechanical properties and characteristics of the material surfaces.
The nanoDMA technique can be applied for characterizing viscoelastic materials for time dependent properties under controlled temperatures. Typical properties obtained via this powerful technique include complex modulus, storage modulus, loss modulus, tangent delta, frequency dependence, strain rate effect, temperature influence, depth profile, etc.