This part of ISO 14577 specifies the method of instrumented indentation test for determination of hardness and other materials parameters for the following three ranges: - macro range: 2 N ≤ F ≤ 30 kN; - micro range: 2 N > F; h > 0,2 μm; - nano range: h ≤ 0,2 μm. For the nano range, the mechanical deformation strongly depends on the real shape of indenter tip and the calculated material parameters are significantly influenced by the contact area function of the indenter used in the testing machine. Therefore, careful calibration of both instrument and indenter shape is required in order to achieve an acceptable reproducibility of the materials parameters determined with different machines. The macro and micro ranges are distinguished by the test forces in relation to the indentation depth. Attention is drawn to the fact that the micro range has an upper limit given by the test force (2 N) and a lower limit given by the indentation depth of 0,2 μm. The determination of hardness and other materials parameters is given in Annex A. At high contact pressures, damage to the indenter is possible. For this reason in the macro range, hard metal indenters are often used. For test pieces with very high hardness and modulus of elasticity permanent indenter deformation may occur and this should be detected using suitable reference materials and its influence on the test result shall be taken into account. This test method can also be applied to thin metallic and non-metallic coatings and non-metallic materials. In this case the specifications in the relevant standards should be taken into account (see also 6.3 of this standard and ISO 14577-4). This document (EN ISO 14577-1:2015) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 164 "Mechanical testing of metals", Subcommittee SC 3 "Hardness testing" (secretariat: DIN, Germany) and has been adopted by Technical Committee ECISS/TC 101 "Test methods for steel (other than chemical analysis)" (secretariat: AFNOR, France) in accordance with the Vienna Agreement. The responsible German body is Working Committee NA 062-01-41 AA "Härteprüfung für Metalle" ("Hardness testing for metals") at DIN Standards Committee Materials Testing (NMP).
