Application of Atomic-Force Microscopy for Nanoindentation of the Surface Layer of Filled Polymer Films

Abstract

The application of atomic-force microscopy for nanoindentation of the surface layer of films of acrylate polymers filled and unfilled with highly dispersed iron powder is examined. The effect of the elasticity of the polymer and of introducing a nanofiller on the nanohardness of the surface layer of the polymer is analyzed. It is shown that the nanohardness of the surface layer of both unfilled and filled polymer films increases as the elasticity of the polymer is reduced. A correlation is observed between an increase in hardness and a reduction in the elasticity of filled polymers.