Visualization of Nanomechanical Properties of Polymer Composites Using Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is considered an advanced tool for microscopic study of materials study due to its capabilities for nanoscale spatial characterization. Over the past two decades, the AFM-based nanomechanical characterization technique has been extensively used to investigate the mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of polymeric materials. This technique enables direct visualization of the micromechanical properties of material surfaces and is referred to as the AFM nanomechanics technique. This review discusses the application of this technique in the study of polymer composites with a specific focus on the significant advances made in tracking the microscopic deformation behavior and visualizing the microscopic stress distributions of materials.