Date of Award

8-1999

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Civil and Construction Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Vladimir Tsukruk

Second Advisor

Dr. Pnina Ari-Gur

Third Advisor

Dr. Daniel Kujawski

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Olowe

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

By adoption of classic indentation models (Hertzian, modified Hertzian, Sneddon, JKR), the elastic properties of polymeric material can be measured by AFM. Heterogeneous thin films were fabricated from polymer blends with a wide range of Young's moduli and thermal transition temperature to test the developed procedure. Results show that the micromapping of elastic properties can be obtained concurrently for glassy and rubber phases as well as across the interface with a lateral resolution better than 100 nm. Application of the elasticity micromapping on heterogeneous polymeric materials reveals thermal transition temperature that coincides very well with bulk values. Depth profile also reveals Young's modulus at different indentation depths. Depth profiling allows investigation of the rnicromechanical properties and thermal properties at different depth from surface.

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