Glossary
Identification of the Mechanical Behaviour of Polymers thanks to Instrumented Indentation Tests

CSM (Continuous Stiffness Measurement)

A device fitted to certain instrumented indentation machines which superimposes a very low-amplitude oscillation on the penetration movement. The discharges induced by these oscillations make it possible to measure changes in contact stiffness throughout the indentation phase. Applied to the indentation of a homogeneous reference material with a known Young's modulus, this technique can be used to determine the indenter's shape function. A(h), i.e. the area of the indentor truncation at distance h from its tip.

DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry)

Scanning calorimetric temperature analysis of a material, in which the difference in heat exchange between the material under study and a reference material (e.g. alumina) is measured. This technique can be used to determine the glass transition temperature of an amorphous phase and the melting...