Measuring Nanoscale Mechanical Properties: Nanoindentation and AFM Indentation Techniques

Presented by Julie Morasch, AMIC Director and WCNT Instrument Manager

Measuring the mechanical properties of materials at the nanoscale allows determination of local mechanical properties as well as mechanical properties of small samples and thin films. This presentation will discuss the basics of both nanoindentation and AFM indentation and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.    

Julie Morasch is an Instrument Manager in the Nanoscale Imaging and Analysis Center, providing support for the nanoindenter, the atomic force microscope (AFM) and the confocal and light microscopes. She received her B.S in Electrical Engineering from UW–Madison and her Ph.D. in Materials Science from the University of Minnesota.  She has over 25 years of experience in AFM and has been with the WCNT for 9 years.

Project Highlights:

• Crystal Misorientation Correlates with Hardness in Tooth Enamels
  Presented by Cayla Stifler, UW–Madison, Physics  Polarization-dependent contrast (PIC) maps reveal that adjacent crystals in tooth enamel from mice, humans, sheep, and parrotfish are slightly misoriented. Within the 2-8° range, the mean misorientation between adjacent crystals is positively correlated with the hardness and elastic modulus demonstrating and important structure-function relationship. 
• Characterization of Disease-Inspired Tissue Engineered Aortic Valves via AFM
  Presented by Lysmarie Figueroa Rios, UW–Madison, Biomedical Engineering 

Calcific Aortic Valve Disease is one of the most prevalent valvular diseases affecting mostly the aging population in developed countries. Currently, there is not available treatment other than surgical valve replacement to eradicate or stop progression of CAVD. This is due in part to limitations in our understanding of the cellular and molecular underpinnings of the disease. In our lab, we focus on developing disease-inspired aortic valve tissue engineered systems that allow us to closely study cellular responses to ECM composition and mechanical changes characteristic of hallmarks present during disease progression. Understanding how cells respond to changes in their ECM can help us identify key features that can one day be targeted to find better treatments for this disease.