Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measurement of the loss tangent of a thin polymeric film using the atomic force microscope

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An atomic force microscope was used to measure the loss tangent, tan δ, of a pressure-sensitive adhesive transfer tape as a function of frequency (0.01 to 10 Hz). For the measurement, the sample was oscillated normal to the surface and the response of the cantilever resting on the polymer surface (as measured via the photodiode) was monitored. Both oscillation amplitude and phase were recorded as a function of frequency. The atomic force microscopy measurement gave the same frequency dependence of tan δ as that measured by a dynamic shear rheometer on a film 20 times thicker. The results demonstrate that the atomic force microscope technique can quantitatively measure rheological properties of soft thin polymeric films.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B. Bhushan, J.N. Israelachvili, and U. Landman, Nature 374, 607 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. G.M. Pharr and W.C. Oliver, MRS Bull. 17, 28 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J.B. Pethica, R. Hutchings, and W.C. Oliver, Philos. Mag. A. 48, 593 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. H.M. Pollock, ASM Handbook, (ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1992), pp. 419–429.

  5. J.L. Loubet, W.C. Oliver, and B.N. Lucas, J. Mater. Res. 15, 1195 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. S.A.S. Asif, K.J. Wahl, and R.J. Colton, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 70, 2408 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. B.J. Briscoe, L. Fiori, and E. Pelillo, J. Phys. D.:Appl. Phys. 31, 2395 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. S.M. Hues, C.F. Draper, and R.J. Colton, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 12, 2211 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. N.A. Burnham and R.J. Colton, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 7, 2906 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. G. Gillies, C.A. Prestidge, and P. Attard, Langmuir 18, 1674 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. C. Reynaud, F. Sommer, C. Quet, N. El Bounia, and T.M. Duc, Surf. Interface Anal. 30, 185 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. J.D. Ferry, Viscoelastic Properties of Polymers, 3rd ed. (John Wiley, New York, 1980).

  13. C.W. Macosko, Rheology Principles, Measurements, and Applications (Wiley-VCH, New York, 1994).

  14. E. Barthel and G. Haiat, Langmuir 18, 9362 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. T. Ting, J. Appl. Mech. 35, 248 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. T. Ting, J. Appl. Mech. 33, 845 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. M. Giri, D. Bousfield, and W.N. Unertl, Tribol. Lett. 9, 33 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. C.Y. Hui, J.M. Baney, and E.J. Kramer, Langmuir 14, 6570 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. T. Kajiyama, K. Tanaka, I. Ohki, S.R. Ge, J.S. Yoon, and A. Takahara, Macromolecules 27, 7932 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. M.C. Friedenberg and C.M. Mate, Langmuir 12, 6138 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. C. Fretigny, C. Basire, and V. Granier, J. Appl. Phys. 82, 43 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. A. Paiva, N. Sheller, M.D. Foster, A.J. Crosby, and K.R. Shull, Macromolecules 33, 1878 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. X.P. Wang, X.D. Xiao, and O.K.C. Tsui, Macromolecules 34, 4180 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. M. Giri, D.B. Bousfield, and W.N. Unertl, Langmuir 17, 2973 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Y. Pu, S.R. Ge, M. Rafailovich, J. Sokolov, Y. Duan, E. Pearce, V. Zaitsev, and S. Schwarz, Langmuir 17, 5865 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. R.E. Mahaffy, C.K. Shih, F.C. MacKintosh, and J. Kas, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 880 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. R.W. Carpick, D.F. Ogletree, and M. Salmeron, Appl. Phys. Lett. 70, 1548 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. K.J. Wahl, S.V. Stepnowski, and W.N. Unertl, Tribol. Lett. 5, 103 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. K. Tanaka, A. Taura, S.R. Ge, A. Takahara, and T. Kajiyama, Macromolecules 29, 3040 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. P.E. Mazeran and J.L. Loubet, Tribol. Lett. 7, 199 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. D.J. Yarusso, J. Adhes. 70, 299 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. A.V. Pocius, Adhesion and Adhesives Technology (Hanser Publishers, Munchen, Germany, 1997).

  33. W.A. Ducker, T.J. Senden, and R.M. Pashley, Nature 353, 239 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. K.L. Johnson, Contact Mechanics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 1985).

  35. G.Y. Choi, S.J. Kim, and A. Ulman, Langmuir 13, 6333 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. N.A. Burnham, G. Gremaud, A.J. Kulik, P.J. Gallo, and F. Oulevey, J. Vac. Sci. & Technol. B 14, 1308 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. M. Radmacher, R.W. Tilmann, and H.E. Gaub, Biophys. J. 64, 735 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. A.R. Savkoor and G.A.D. Briggs, Proc. R. Soc. (London) Ser. A 356, 103 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  39. R.J. Warmack, X.Y. Zheng, T. Thundat, and D.P. Allison, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 65, 394 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. G.M. Pharr, W.C. Oliver, and F.R. Brotzen, J. Mater. Res. 7, 613 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymers Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, USA

    P. M. McGuiggan

  2. 3M Center, Commercial Graphics Division, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55144, USA

    D. J. Yarusso

Authors
  1. P. M. McGuiggan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. J. Yarusso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. M. McGuiggan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McGuiggan, P.M., Yarusso, D.J. Measurement of the loss tangent of a thin polymeric film using the atomic force microscope. Journal of Materials Research 19, 38 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2004.19.1.387

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2004.19.1.387

Search

Navigation