Advanced Micro Combi Tester: MCT³

The Micro Combi Tester (MCT³) from Anton Paar GmbH is a universal measurement head designed to enable the complete mechanical characterization of coatings and bulk samples.

The instrument’s unique wide load range makes it ideally suited to determining scratch resistance, hardness, adhesion, elastic modulus, friction, and wear in diverse sample types.

The MCT³ can analyze organic and inorganic samples, soft and hard samples, bulk materials, and coatings (between 1 µm and 20 µm).

The MCT³’s characterization load range can be further expanded by combining it with different instrumented indentation testing or scratch testing heads, or even an atomic force microscope. All of this can be performed using a unified Step surface testing platform.

Key Features

Four-in-One Mechanical Characterization

Image Credit:Anton Paar GmbH

The distinct mechanical design of the MCT³ incorporates four different mechanical characterization measurement methods into a single measurement head, with absolutely no reduction in measurement quality.

For example, users can measure Vickers hardness (conventional hardness testing), hardness and elastic modulus (instrumented indentation testing), coating adhesion and scratch resistance (scratch testing), and friction and wear (multi-pass tribological testing), all with a single measurement head.

A Fully Automated Mechanical Characterization Tester

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The MCT³ (like all Anton Paar scratch testers) can automatically detect critical loads by measuring the relevant penetration depth, friction force, or acoustic emission signal and then using a powerful algorithm to analyze these signals. Critical loads are automatically determined without operator influence, ensuring accuracy.

Vickers hardness tests can be conducted using the instrument’s software package, with the imprint detected and measured automatically. The instrumented indentation technique allows hardness and elastic modulus to be determined at various positions in just one measurement.

The Ideal Load Range for a Multitude of Applications

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Scratch and instrumented indentation (IIT) tests can be performed using MCT³, with the instrument able to accommodate slight depths (a few nm for surface detection) to significant depths (up to 1 mm).

The MCT³’s wide range of applied and measured force (from 10 mN to 30 n) can match virtually any sample characteristics - a load and depth range ideally suited to the mechanical characterization of hard coatings (PVD, CVD from 1 µm to 20 µm), cementitious materials, thermal/plasma spray coatings, metals, and polymers.

The MCT³ also offers Vickers hardness testing within the same force range, ideal where standards require routine hardness testing for bulk materials.

Patented Synchronized Panorama Mode

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The patented Synchronized Panorama Mode feature automatically synchronizes all sensor signal recordings, ensuring that the entire scratch image remains in perfect focus. Observing the synchronized optical and signal recordings makes it easy to identify critical loads.

Anton Paar holds U.S. patent 8261600 and European patent EP 2065695.

Accurate Results for Uneven and Curved Surfaces

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The MCT³scratch system’s unique force sensor control allows it to detect every surface deviation, correcting these with active force feedback.

By following the shape with total control of the desired load, the MCT³can perform reliable measurements on any sample shape, even with uneven, curved surfaces such as lenses.

Maximum Micro Combi Tester Versatility with Step Platform

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The innovative Step platforms allow users to truly maximize the versatility of the MCT³.

For example, the MCT^³ head can be complemented with another indentation or scratch tester to completely cover the nano/micro/macro range, or users can opt to add AFM capabilities to acquire surface topography data and complete mechanical surface characterization within a single platform.

Technical Specifications

Source:Anton Paar GmbH

Standards

ASTM

C1624

E2546

G171

ISO

14577

20502

27307:2015