Environmental Conditioning Assembly for Nano-Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for micron and nano-scale mechanical testing at elevated temperatures face challenges such as thermal drift, long setup times, and oxidation of probe and sample components, leading to unreliable measurements and altered material properties.
Innovation Solution
An environmental conditioning assembly that creates a localized, controlled environment around the sample, allowing for rapid and accurate heating and cooling, and preventing oxidation by using inert gases, which includes a sample stage with expansion and contraction linkage to maintain sample elevation stability during temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a macro scale resistive heating stage with large surface area is used to heat the sample, then the sample can be heated to elevated temperatures, but thermal drift occurs due to fluctuations in the temperature of the load frame over time
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into two distinct zones: a macro-scale heating stage for bulk temperature control and a localized micro-heating element positioned directly at the sample-probe interface. This segmentation allows the bulk stage to maintain elevated temperatures while the localized heater compensates for thermal drift at the critical measurement zone, thereby improving measurement reliability without sacrificing temperature capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by providing enhanced heating specifically at the sample-probe contact region through a micro-heating element, while the broader heating stage maintains overall sample temperature. This localized heating approach addresses thermal drift at the critical measurement interface without requiring the entire load frame to be heated, thus reducing thermal fluctuations and improving measurement reliability.
2Temperature
If the entire volume of the instrument chamber is heated including the instrument and housing, then the sample can be heated uniformly, but a significant amount of time is needed to reach the steady state temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into a bulk heating stage for general temperature maintenance and a localized micro-heating element at the sample-probe interface. The micro-heater has minimal thermal mass and can rapidly reach steady state, eliminating the lengthy warm-up period required when heating the entire chamber, while still achieving the required sample temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The critical heating function is extracted from the bulk chamber heating system and placed directly at the sample-probe interface through a micro-heating element. This extracted heating mechanism operates independently and rapidly, eliminating the time delay associated with heating the entire instrument chamber while still achieving uniform sample heating.
3Temperature
If high temperature heating above 80 degrees Celsius is applied, then the sample can be tested at elevated temperatures, but oxidation occurs of the probe tip, sample or sample stage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an inert atmosphere by introducing nitrogen or other inert gases into the chamber surrounding the sample and probe. This inert environment prevents oxidation of the probe tip, sample, and stage even at elevated temperatures above 80°C, while still allowing the heating system to achieve the required testing temperatures. The inert gas flow is carefully controlled to maintain the protective atmosphere without interfering with the mechanical testing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and precise micron and nano-scale mechanical characterization up to 1500 degrees Celsius by minimizing thermal drift and oxidation, allowing for accurate measurement of mechanical properties without altering the sample's material composition.
Implementation Method 1
a sample heating or cooling system configured to heat or cool the sample on the stage surface within the enclosure housing
Implementation Method 2
the expansion or contraction of the expansion and contraction linkage corresponds to temperature fluctuations and accordingly maintains the sample surface elevation
Data Source
AI summary
An environmental conditioning assembly for use in mechanical testing at scales of microns or less. The assembly includes an enclosure housing with an environmental cavity therein. A sample stage is positioned within the environmental cavity and includes an option sample heater. The enclosure housing includes a cavity perimeter clustered around the sample stage, and the enclosure housing isolates the environmental cavity and the sample stage from an environment exterior to the enclosure housing. In an example, an expansion and contraction linkage maintains a sample on the sample stage at a static elevation according to heating or cooling fluctuations within the environmental cavity. A testing instrument access port extends through the enclosure housing into the environmental cavity.