Measuring the tensile and bending properties of nanohoneycomb structures

Abstract

The mechanical properties, including Young's modulus, the of effective bending modulus, and the nominal fracture strength, of nanohoneycomb structures were measured by using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a nano-universal testing machine (UTM). Anodic alumina films were taken as the nanohoneycomb structures. Bending tests were carried out on cantilever beams by pressing AFM tips, and the results were compared with three-point bending tests and tensile tests conducted by; using the nano-UTM. A new and less damaging method for gripping the specimens was elaborated for the tensile tests. The results obtained can serve as design guidelines in applications of nanohoneycomb structures.