Local elasticity imaging of nano bundle structure of polycarbonate surface using atomic force microscopy

Abstract

The elasticity of the periodic bundle structure formed by the interaction between the tip of an atomic force microscope and a polycarbonate surface was studied. The local elasticity of the bundle was observed using ultrasonic force microscopy, which combines the sensitivity to an elastic structure of acoustic microscopy with atomic force microscopy. The mean height of the bundle increases with increase in the number of scan-scratching cycles. The process of decreasing elasticity of a growing bundle of polycarbonate was observed clearly. Furthermore, the elasticity contrast inside the bundle structure was observed by adjusting the amplitude of ultrasonic vibration of sample height in ultrasonic force microscopy.

Nanowearing property of a fatigued polycarbonate surface studied by atomic force microscopy

“…[18][19][20] UFM is capable of detecting slight variations of the local surface elasticity, such as standard Ge dots on a Si substrate 19 and a modified polymer surface. 15 The easiest way to realize the UFM mode for imaging elastic property was to modify a standard AFM. Thus, Fig.…”

“…Nanometer-scale bundles form on the surface scratched with an AFM tip. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The formation mechanism, 11-14 the local elasticity, 15 and the carving method without the formation of bundles 14,17 have been investigated. The formation of bundles is relative to the viscoelastic properties of the polymer surface.…”

Nanometer-Scale Manipulation and Ultrasonic Cutting Using an Atomic Force Microscope Controlled by a Haptic Device as a Human Interface

“…The contact between the probe and the surface can be maintained at a constant force, thus allowing reliable modification by scratching on the surface. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] However, some polymeric materials and biological samples exhibit complicated scratched behavior, such as bundle formation, due to a sliding interaction between a probe of an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a viscoelastic surface, 7,8) making it difficult to cut polymer surfaces smoothly for nanometer-scale fabrication. Furthermore, it is challenging to control surface cutting in the case of inhomogeneous materials such as polymer blends and biological samples, because of their inhomogeneous stiffness.…”

Nanowear studies in reversibly switchable polystyrene–poly(acrylic acid) mixed brushes

“…Formation of ripples perpendicular to the scan direction has been reported as a typical wear mode for polymer surfaces such as polystyrene (PS) [5][6][7][8][9], polyesters [10], polycarbonate (PC) [11][12][13], poly(vinylchloride) [14], poly(tert-butyl acrylate) [15], and polyacetylene [16]. Langmuir-Blodgett bilayers of a polyglutamate (PG) statistical copolymer have also shown formation of ripples during the wear process [17].…”