Mechanical properties of SiO2-PMMA based hybrid organic-inorganic thin films

Nano-indentations using a Berkovich indenter were performed in order to analyze the mechanical properties of hybrid organic-inorganic coatings. This technique allows to measure low load deformations and therefore to estimate quantitatively mechanical properties of the coatings. The elastic modulus and the hardness were determined on the basis of the load-displacement curve. We report results obtained for class II hybrid coatings based on SiO2-PMMA prepared by sol-gel process. The effects of coating composition were investigated.