SUMMARYPeakForce TM Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (QNM TM ) is a new atomic force microscopy technique for measuring the Young's modulus of materials with high spatial resolution and surface sensitivity, by probing at the nanoscale. In the present work, modulus results from PeakForce™ QNM™ using three different probes are presented for a number of different polymers with a range of Young's moduli that were measured independently by Instrumented (nano) Indentation Testing (IIT). The results from the diamond and silicon AFM probes were consistent and in reasonable agreement with IIT values for the majority of samples. It is concluded that the technique is complimentary to IIT; calibration requirements and potential improvements to the technique are discussed.
SUMMARYThe results presented in this paper explore the extent to which indentation in the interfacial region of polymer composites can be used to identify, unambiguously, an interphase of distinct elastic properties. Supporting evidence is presented in the form of AFM-indentation in the interfacial region of two polymer composites, a glass fibre-reinforced vinylester and a glass flake-reinforced polypropylene, where a transition region of measurement artefact is revealed as opposed to a physically distinct interphase. The conclusions from these tests are augmented by further work on a glass fibre-reinforced phenolic using a new in-situ method of identifying measurement artefacts.
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