Viscoelasticity analysis of elastomer blend usine force measurements of atomic force microscope

Abstract

Introducing the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) analysis to force-distance curve measurements of atomic force microscopy allows determination of the Young's modulus and adhesion energy. Combining this method with force mapping measurement, we obtained the distribution of these mechanical properties at nanometer lateral resolution. We applied this technique to an elastomer blend. We showed an image of the deviation from the JKR curve, which represents the distribution of viscoelastic properties because a force-distance curve on viscoelastic materials does not follow the JKR elastic theory. We measured the speed dependency of two elastomer components using force measurements. We also investigated the stress-relaxation measurements; a few milliseconds of relaxation time was observed. Combining stress relaxation measurement with force mapping measurement, the distribution of force relaxed during 10 ms was acquired, which also clarified local distribution of viscoelastic properties. ©2012, The Society of Polymer Science,.