This document introduces the capability of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in studying the temperature and humidity control application of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) surfaces. AFM can image insulating materials with atomic resolution and measure various properties of polymers and surface structures, including friction, adhesion, and viscoelasticity. AFM measurements can be performed at the molecular level. The document also discusses the influence of the environment and the history of a polymer on its morphology and material properties, as well as the effects of annealing and exceeding the glass transition temperature on polymer chains. Taking polyvinyl alcohol as an example, exceeding its glass transition temperature can give the polymer chains the mobility to migrate into more energetically favorable orientations.
This document is an application note detailing the use of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to investigate the properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). It highlights the instrument's ability to measure surface structure, friction, adhesion, and viscoelasticity without damaging preparative processes like metallic coating.
The note presents two experiments conducted with an Agilent AFM equipped with an environmental chamber. The first experiment examined the effect of temperature on PVOH crystallization, while the second investigated the impact of relative humidity on the polymer's morphology and crystallinity.
Atomic force microscopy can be used to measure friction, adhesion, and viscoelasticity as well as surface structure.
The sample was imaged at 22 °C and then again at 60 °C.
The film had approximately 20% water content after exposure to moist air.