As an “in situ” wear test it is possible to detect
the onset of damage and obtain mechanistic information that can be much more beneficial in intelligent coatings design than merely
reporting an average wear rate. Nano-Impact was developed and has been patented by Micro Materials (EU Patent 1095254) and is
fast becoming a vital research tool in the very best worldwide research institutions. Operating at high strain rates, nano-impact provides
valuable additional information to nanoindentation.