Micro-cantilever Testing of Irradiated Materials

Micro-cantilever testing is a small-scale test method useful in evaluating mechanical properties of small volumes of material, such as those encountered in thin multilayer films or ion-irradiated materials. This is one of the more commonly used techniques offering precise and localised insights crucial for understanding and improving the performance of materials subjected to ion irradiation. Micro-cantilever testing along with advanced simulation methods may be used for extending micro-scale properties into the macro-scale, or to investigate fundamental deformation or failure mechanisms of microstructural features or thin ion-irradiated layers. This chapter will discuss the various aspects of micro-cantilever testing as an experimental and analytical tool for assessing the mechanical properties of materials, with an emphasis on ion-irradiated specimens. Key sample design parameters, sample preparation techniques, testing methods, characterisation outcomes and limitations of these methods will be described. Numerical simulation methods beyond Euler beam theory used to model the micro-cantilever loading condition will be outlined. The various challenges encountered in modelling micro-cantilever deformation behaviour, including the deconvolution of the apparent hardening due to sample size effects and damage induced during Focused Ion Beam milling from radiation hardening effects, will be discussed as well.