title: Probing the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties of polymers at the nanoscale with band excitation thermal scanning probe microscopy.
abstract: Understanding local mechanisms for temperature-induced phase transitions in polymers requires quantitative measurements of the thermomechanical behavior, including glass transition and melting temperatures as well as temperature dependent elastic and loss modulus and thermal expansion coefficients in nanoscale volumes. Here, we demonstrate an approach for probing local thermal phase transitions based on the combination of thermal field confinement by a heated SPM probe and multi-frequency thermomechanical detection. The local measurement of the glass transition temperature is demonstrated and the detection limits are established.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, PO 2008, MS-6487, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nikiforov
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jesse
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Morozovska
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eliseev
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Germinario
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kalinin