Heterodyne force microscopy of PMMA/rubber nanocomposites: nanomapping of viscoelastic response at ultrasonic frequencies

We present measurements of the nanoscale elastic and viscoelastic properties of samples of poly(methylmetacrylate) (PMMA)/rubber nanocomposites. For these studies we have used a new technique based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) with ultrasonic excitation, heterodyne force microscopy (HFM), which provides a means of testing the viscoelastic response of polymeric materials locally (in tip-probed regions) at MHz frequencies. Phase-HFM contrast distinguishes local differences in the dynamic response of PMMA/rubber composites. Comparison of HFM with other AFM-based techniques (ultrasonic force microscopy, friction force microscopy and force modulation microscopy), while imaging the same surface region, emphasizes the unique capabilities of HFM for these kinds of studies, and reveals key nanostructural characteristics of the composites. Some of the toughening particles appear to be broken down, with areas of PMMA detached from the surrounding matrix.

[1]  J. Gilman,et al.  Nanotechnology , 2001 .

[2]  N. Takeda,et al.  Elastic mapping of heterogeneous nanostructures with ultrasonic force microscopy (UFM) , 1999 .

[3]  Paul K. Hansma,et al.  Tapping mode atomic force microscopy in liquids , 1994 .

[4]  Oleg Kolosov,et al.  Ultrasonic force microscopy for nanometer resolution subsurface imaging , 1994 .

[5]  E. Chilla,et al.  Detection of surface acoustic waves by scanning force microscopy , 1992 .

[6]  J. Barbera,et al.  Contact mechanics , 1999 .

[7]  V. Elings,et al.  Fractured polymer/silica fiber surface studied by tapping mode atomic force microscopy , 1993 .

[8]  Atsushi Takahara,et al.  Surface molecular motion of the monodisperse polystyrene films , 1997 .

[9]  Pascal Gallo,et al.  How does a tip tap? , 1997 .

[10]  Ute Rabe,et al.  Nanomechanical surface characterization by atomic force acoustic microscopy , 1997 .

[11]  Pascal Gallo,et al.  Scanning local‐acceleration microscopy , 1996 .

[12]  Oleg Kolosov,et al.  Ultrasound induced lubricity in microscopic contact , 1997 .

[13]  Jan Greve,et al.  Adhesion force imaging in air and liquid by adhesion mode atomic force microscopy , 1994 .

[14]  L. Duysens.  Preprints , 1966, Nature.

[15]  W. Gladfelter,et al.  Probing Molecular Relaxation on Polymer Surfaces with Friction Force Microscopy , 1995 .

[16]  Oleg Kolosov,et al.  Nonlinear Detection of Ultrasonic Vibrations in an Atomic Force Microscope , 1993 .

[17]  H. Pollock,et al.  LOCALIZED THERMAL ANALYSIS USING A MINIATURIZED RESISTIVE PROBE , 1996 .

[18]  P. Hansma,et al.  Using force modulation to image surface elasticities with the atomic force microscope , 1991 .

[19]  Ricardo Garcia,et al.  Phase contrast in tapping-mode scanning force microscopy , 1998 .

[20]  A. Takahara,et al.  Morphology and mechanical properties of polymer surfaces via scanning force microscopy , 1996 .

[21]  Graham Williams,et al.  Anelastic and Dielectric Effects in Polymeric Solids , 1991 .

[22]  Ute Rabe,et al.  Acoustic microscopy by atomic force microscopy , 1994 .

[23]  N. G. Mccrum,et al.  Principles Of Polymer Engineering , 1988 .

[24]  Javier Tamayo,et al.  Effects of elastic and inelastic interactions on phase contrast images in tapping-mode scanning force microscopy , 1997 .

[25]  F. Dinelli,et al.  Surface morphology and crystallinity of biaxially stretched PET films on the nanoscale , 2000 .

[26]  Pierre-Emmanuel Mazeran,et al.  Force modulation with a scanning force microscope: an analysis , 1997 .

[27]  Warren P. Mason,et al.  Introduction to polymer viscoelasticity , 1972 .

[28]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER SURFACES WITH ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY , 1997 .

[29]  W. Arnold,et al.  Near-Field Acoustic Microscopy , 1996 .

[30]  Ricardo Garcia,et al.  Deformation, Contact Time, and Phase Contrast in Tapping Mode Scanning Force Microscopy , 1996 .

[31]  Bernard Cretin,et al.  Scanning Microdeformation Microscopy , 1993 .

[32]  Delphine Gourdon,et al.  Local mechanical spectroscopy with nanometer-scale lateral resolution , 1998 .

[33]  M. Radmacher,et al.  Imaging viscoelasticity by force modulation with the atomic force microscope. , 1993, Biophysical journal.

[34]  C. Tanford.  Macromolecules , 1994, Nature.