Nanotribology on Polymer Blend Surface by Atomic Force Microscopy

Nanotribological properties of polystyrene/poly(vinyl methyl ether) blend surface mainly at its melt state were investigated using frictional loop (FL) measurement by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The energy dissipation estimated from the area inside the FL showed each peak against both temperature and scan rate. Indentation depth profile against scan rate was simultaneously detected. The indentation was largely restricted above the scan rate where the dissipation energy curve had a peak. We could succeed in drawing both master curves for the energy dissipation and the indentation depth using the same shift factor aT. It was concluded that AFM is a powerful tool for evaluating the nanotribological properties of polymer melt.