Agilent Technologies Nano Indenter G200 User Manual page 444

Scratch Testing E
Hard Thin Films (Oxides, Ceramics, Diamond-Like)
These are probably the simplest systems to study because the main
behavior for the film is brittle, with little energy spent in plastic
deformation, so any fracture and delamination events are clearly
identified in the penetration and force curves. For a specific indenter
geometry, the load under which a crack occurs usually relates to the
abrasion resistance of the film—a film that tolerates a higher load prior
to cracking is characterized as better.
Agilent Nano Indenter G200 User's Guide E-20