Indentation hardness and scratch tests for thin layers manufactured by sol-gel process

•Design of a homemade nano-indenter with a microscope and a scanning stage.•Study of mechanical properties of silica-PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) ormosils.•Determination of hardness and elastic modulus by nano-indentation.•Comprehension of self-healing mechanisms. Indentation hardness and scratch tests are common techniques used in industries and laboratories to determine the mechanical properties of thin films. Here, we propose to determine a relative value of the elastic modulus and hardness of thin films composed of a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane and polymeric silica with elastic properties and self-healing effects. For this study, a homemade nano-indenter and nano scratch tester have been designed with a microscope and a scanning stage allowing the carrying out of measurements on transparent materials having a weak elastic modulus and the possibility to identify a self-healing effect of these films.