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Hello
Is it possible to perform stiffness measurements of a polymer using standard AFM? I ve got a Multimode veeco with only SCM and CAFM modules. DO I need extra modules?
It depends. You can use just force-volume mode ( Macromolecules, 2012, v.45 (10), p. 4277–4288 ) or the additional Peak-Force QNM (Langmuir, 2012, 28 (46), pp 16060–16071).
You could also use a ramp array if you don't care much about mapping. The XY spacing won't be very accurate with the Multimode, but that isn't usually a big problem. You can use Nanoscope Analysis indentation view to analyze the individual curves (this can be automated if you have a lot of them).
--Bede
Thank you for your answers. Is the QNM mode an additional software? Does it require special tips? I m also a bit concerned as my polymer has a very low Young's modulus (15-100KPa) and as far as I understood, the QNM measurements have to be carried out in contact mode and not tapping mode. Is this the case? Thanks!
>Is the QNM mode an additional software?
Yes.
>Does it require special tips? I m also a bit concerned as my polymer has a very low Young's modulus (15-100KPa)
Yes, blind probes, if you want to measure the modulus.
> and as far as I understood, the QNM measurements have to be carried out in contact mode and not tapping mode.
No, it is not. It is an oscillation but non-resonant mode. The issue is not just the potential destruction of the sample (it is a sort of trivial and can easily be avoided). The problem is the keeping the stress below the linearity limit. Otherwise, you measure something but not modulus.