AVS 50th International Symposium
    Surface Science Tuesday Sessions
       Session SS-TuP

Paper SS-TuP6
Dynamic Mechanical Analyses of Polymers

Tuesday, November 4, 2003, 5:30 pm, Room Hall A-C

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: K.J. Wahl, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Authors: T.J. Mullen, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
S.A. Syed Asif, Hysitron, Inc.
K.J. Wahl, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Thin polymer films are of considerable interest for applications in electronics packaging, biomedical devices, MEMS devices, lubrication, antifouling and adhesives. However, evaluating the mechanical properties of polymer thin films is difficult due to the low elastic moduli and substrate influence. In this paper, we present an approach for measuring the dynamic mechanical properties of thin, compliant polymer films using AC force-modulation coupled with a hybrid scanning indenter. This combination allows surface sensitive, quantitative mechanical properties measurements at a single point as well as while scanning. Dynamic response of the indenter is monitored during tip-sample approach, enabling sensitive detection of the surface, and during contact for evaluation of storage and loss moduli of polymer samples. Examples of dynamic mechanical properties analyses using force-displacement curves, frequency sweeps, and imaging will be presented for polyethylene, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and other polymer surfaces.