Abstract :
[en] We report in this contribution the successful application of chemical force microscopy to study aging
of polymer surfaces at the submicroscopic scale. Adhesion force mapping using tips modified with methyland
hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiols was used to probe the chemical composition of polypropylene surfaces
as a function of aging time. We have measured adhesion force distributions on polypropylene melt-pressed
films stabilized with antioxidants, process-stabilizing agents, and UV-light stabilizers. These adhesion
force distributions were correlated with the additive distribution at the surface. We were able to evidence
modifications of the local adhesion properties on the polymer surface due to material aging. These results
support the conclusion that the UV-light stabilizer migrates toward the surface and forms a film that
makes the surface less hydrophobic. Laterally resolved adhesion force maps show chemically heterogeneous
surfaces on a sub-100 nm scale
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