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Advanced techniques for nanocharacterization of polymeric coating surfaces

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Abstract

Surface properties of a polymeric coating system have a strong influence on its performance and service life. However, the surface of a polymer coating may have different chemical, physical, and mechanical properties from the bulk. In order to monitor the coating property changes with environmental exposures from the early stages of degradation, nondestructive techniques with the ability to characterize surface properties with micro- to nanoscale spatial resolution are required. In this article, atomic force microscopy has been applied to study surface microstructure and morphological changes during degradation in polymer coatings. Additionally, the use of AFM with a controlled tip-sample environment to study nanochemical heterogeneity and the application of nanoindentation to characterize mechanical properties of coatings surfaces are demonstrated. The results obtained from these nanometer characterization techniques will provide a better understanding of the degradation mechanisms and a fundamental basis for predicting the service life of polymer coatings.

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Author notes

  1. Mark R. VanLandingham

    Present address: Army Research Laboratory, 21005, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Standards and Technology, 20899, Gaithersburg, MD

    Xiaohong Gu, Tinh Nguyen, Li-Piin Sung, Mark R. VanLandingham, Michael J. Fasolka & Jonathan W. Martin

  2. University of Missouri-Kansas City, 64110, Kansas City, MO

    Y. C. Jean

  3. PPG Industries, Inc., 15101, Allison Park, PA

    Diep Nguyen

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Nei-Kai Chang & Tsun-Yen Wu

Authors
  1. Xiaohong Gu
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  2. Tinh Nguyen
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  3. Li-Piin Sung
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  4. Mark R. VanLandingham
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  5. Michael J. Fasolka
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  7. Y. C. Jean
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  8. Diep Nguyen
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  10. Tsun-Yen Wu
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Gu, X., Nguyen, T., Sung, LP. et al. Advanced techniques for nanocharacterization of polymeric coating surfaces. J Coat. Technol. Res. 1, 191–200 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-004-0012-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-004-0012-4

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