HOT HARDNESS MEASUREMENTS ON MATERIALS UP TO 600 °C DURING THE FIRST HOUR OF USING

In the aeronautical field, materials are used in severe environmental conditions (temperature, atmosphere, exposure time ... ), particularly for engine applications. In order to characterize the use of these materials in the evaluation of their properties, it is necessary to carry out tests in conditions close to their operating environment. Hot hardness is a simple method which can be applied on many different materials such as oxidized layers, coatings, composite materials, brazing cords, additive manufacturing materials. ONERA is developing micromechanical characterization means to carry out Vickers microhardness tests from room temperature up to 600 degrees C. In principle, a pyramidal punch is applied on the surface of a material and the applied load is continuously measured during indenter's moving in the material. The material is tested locally under conditions close to the actual conditions of employment. The goal of this research is to improve microindentation in order to achieve temperature test campaigns up to 600 degrees C under a controlled atmosphere of argon and to validate a method to produce a series of results during the first hour of using up to 600 degrees C. Stainless material is studied to compare the evolution of its hot hardness properties versus different parameters such as load, holding time at the maximum load, atmosphere, and thermal duration. A discussion about these measurements and the technical limits of hot hardness technology is presented.