Oliver-Pharr Method

The Oliver-Pharr method is a technique used to measure the hardness and stiffness of very small material samples by pressing a sharp indenter into their surface. As the indenter pushes in, it records how much the material deforms. When the load is removed, the way the surface springs back helps determine properties like hardness and elastic modulus. This method is often used in nanoindentation testing to analyze thin films, coatings, or small structures with high precision, providing valuable insights into material performance at tiny scales.