In situ analysis of viscoelastic contact on glassy polymer surfaces

The aim of this study is to understand time-dependant behaviour of polymeric surfaces and to characterize corresponding rheological mechanisms. One way to study this behaviour is by means of creep (including followed recovery) experiments. The first key point is the experimental characterization of the recovery phase. One of the specificity of the group is to develop original devices which allow us to record some mechanical and physical information on transparent polymers without being model dependant. The current step is to be able to study non transparent polymers with a new set-up where the normal load is applied by an UMT apparatus (Bruker) and the imprint recovery is measured by a deflectometry technique instrument developed by HOLO3. This new set-up allow to study voscoelastic and viscoplastic recovery kinetics.