A review of recent research on nanoindentation of polymer composites and their constituents

Although instrumented nanoindentation testing has been used to characterize the mechanical properties of materials since the 1970s, the vast majority of the research involving nanoindentation of polymer composite materials and their constituents has been done since the early 2000s. The objective of this article is to review recent archival journal publications dealing with nanoindentation of polymer composites and their constituents, with emphasis on publications that have appeared since 2000. Developments in experimental nanoindentation, numerical simulation of nanoindentation and combined experimental/numerical nanoindentation techniques will be discussed. The review will show that nanoindentation has been particularly useful in the characterization of polymer matrix materials, fibers, particles and other constituent materials in polymer composites. Studies of both indirect and direct measurement of elastic, viscoelastic and dynamic mechanical properties of constituents by nanoindentation are reviewed, along with nanomechanical characterization of composite interface and interphase regions and comparisons of bulk and in situ properties measured by nanoindentation. Finally, some general conclusions and recommendations for future studies are offered. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.