Patent ID: 7849731

Claim:
A method for measuring the mechanical properties of surface as a function of temperature, load and the duration of time of applying said temperature and load, said method comprising of the steps of: a) providing a cantilever tip; b) repeatedly positioning said tip relative to the surface at select intervals along X and Y axes, with a first incremental select spacing along the X axis and a first incremental spacing along the Y axis, wherein one parameter selected from the group consisting of temperature, load and time is varied a first incremental select amount between each position along the X axis and a second parameter, different from the first parameter, selected from the group consisting of temperature, time and load is varied a second incremental select amount between each position along the Y axis; c) contacting said tip with the surface; d) heating said tip to a select temperature; e) applying a select load to said tip for a select time; and f) determining the depth of indentation.