Nanomechanical Properties of Polymer Thin Films
Material Measurement Laboratory, Materials Science and Engineering Division
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When polymers are confined to small dimensions, it has been shown that their properties can deviate quite dramatically from their bulk counterparts. In particular, we are interested in how the mechanical properties of polymer thin films change under confinement. We are applying a wrinkling-based metrology to elucidate the mechanical response of confined and/or structured polymer films. Of interest is how chain architecture, main chain stiffness, and side group flexibility impacts the elastic modulus of ultrathin polymer films. Additionally, we are developing methods for quantifying the tensile strength of such films as well as probing their viscoelastic properties.