Local work hardening of steel

In this application note, Bruker Nano provides experimental data on the local work hardening of steel using nanoindentation. In metal production, the mechanical properties of wrought material are well controlled during manufacturing but may be altered by subsequent forming into the final product. Welding or joining, as well as deep drawing, causes local changes of materials properties. In the present example, a can has been seamed by folding metal sheets. The local work hardening of the bent metal in the folded areas is of specific interest. Nanoindentation is an ideal method for mapping mechanical property changes and getting work hardening information with micrometer resolution.