Nanomechanical and surface behavior of polydimethylsiloxane-filled nanoporous anodic alumina

Abstract

In this article, the mechanical and wetting behavior of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) and nanoporous-filled AAO were investigated using nanoindentation and contact angle measurements. The results showed that the nanoporous AAO was hydrophobic with a contact angle of 105°. The polymer filling affected the surface property and reduced the contact angle to 84°. The effects of the nanoporous filling on the Young's modulus and the hardness are investigated and discussed. A three-dimensional finite element model was also successfully developed to understand the nanoindentation-induced mechanism. A maximum von Mises stress of 1058 MPa occurred beneath the indenter. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.