This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact epubs@purdue.edu for additional information.Strus, Mark C.; Cano, Camilo I.; Pipes, R. Byron; Nguyen, Cattien V.; and Raman, Arvind, "Interfacial energy between carbon nanotubes and polymers measured from nanoscale peel tests in the atomic force microscope" (2009 b s t r a c tThe future development of polymer composite materials with nanotubes or nanoscale fibers requires the ability to understand and improve the interfacial bonding at the nanotube-polymer matrix interface. In recent work [Strus MC, Zalamea L, Raman A, Pipes RB, Nguyen CV, Stach EA. Peeling force spectroscopy: exposing the adhesive nanomechanics of one-dimensional nanostructures. Nano Lett 2008;8(2):544-50], it has been shown that a new mode in the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), peeling force spectroscopy, can be used to understand the adhesive mechanics of carbon nanotubes peeled from a surface. In the present work, we demonstrate how AFM peeling force spectroscopy can be used to distinguish between elastic and interfacial components during a nanoscale peel test, thus enabling the direct measurement of interfacial energy between an individual nanotube or nanofiber and a given material surface. The proposed method provides a convenient experimental framework to quickly screen different combinations of polymers and functionalized nanotubes for optimal interfacial strength.Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Solid poly(amic acid) (PAA) precursor is used for foaming into microspheres or foams depending on whether the powder particles are free or confined inside a mold. Solid-state foaming of powder precursors is studied by examining concurrent and competitive phenomena that determine the morphology and physical properties of the foam unit cell. Simultaneous analysis through thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) is proposed for the characterization of important transitions during the blowing process. Effects of particle size and shape on bubble growth will be addressed.

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