Shear modulation force microscopy study of near surface glass transition temperatures

Phys Rev Lett. 2000 Sep 11;85(11):2340-3. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.2340.

Abstract

We report results of glass transition (T(g)) measurements for polymer thin films using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM mode, shear modulation force microscopy (SMFM), involves measuring the temperature-dependent shear force on a tip modulated parallel to the sample surface. Using this method we have measured the surface T(g) of thin (17-500 nm) polymer films and found that T(g) is independent of film thickness (t>17 nm), strength of substrate interactions, or even presence of substrate.