Xiaobin Liang

For a long time, it has been difficult to reach a consensus on the physical origin of the “Mullins effect” because of the limited capabilities for visualizing microscopic structures. This work investigates the microscopic mechanism of the Mullins effect in carbon black (CB)-filled styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) after application of cyclic uniaxial tension. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanomechanics to characterize the nanoscale mechanical properties of CB/SBR vulcanizate after the appli

In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanomechanics were used to visualize the nanoscale stress distribution in carbon black (CB)-reinforced isoprene rubber (IR) vulcanizates at different elongations and quantitatively evaluate their volume fractions for the first time. The stress concentrations in the protofibrous structure (stress chains) that formed around the CB filler in CB-reinforced IR vulcanizates were directly observed at the nanoscale. The relationship between the local nanoscal

An in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanomechanical technique was used to directly visualize the micromechanical behaviors of polymer nanocomposites during compressive strain. We obtained a stress distribution image of carbon black (CB)-filled rubber at the nanoscale for the first time, and we traced the microscopic deformation behaviors of CB particles. Through this experiment, we directly revealed the microscopic reinforcement mechanisms of rubber composites. We found that CB-filled rubber

Abstract The nanofishing of a telechelic thiol‐terminated poly( N ‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) single polymer chain from an Au (111) substrate in aqueous solution is investigated by atomic force microscopy. The obtained force–extension curves show two typical profiles: one is in good agreement with a so‐called worm‐like chain model, whereas the other is characterized by a Rayleigh–Plateau constant force. The appearance of the force plateau region is in agreement with the theoretical prediction

Abstract Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is considered an advanced tool for microscopic study of materials study due to its capabilities for nanoscale spatial characterization. Over the past two decades, the AFM-based nanomechanical characterization technique has been extensively used to investigate the mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of polymeric materials. This technique enables direct visualization of the micromechanical properties of material surfaces and is referred to as the

ABSTRACT In single‐molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), many studies have focused on the elasticity and conformation of polymer chains, but little attention has been devoted to the dynamic properties of single polymer chains. In this study, we measured the energy dissipation and elastic properties of single polystyrene (PS) chains in toluene, methanol, and N , N ‐dimethylformamide using a homemade piezo‐control and data acquisition system externally coupled to a commercial atomic force microscope

Thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) is of great interest in the fields of medicine and pharmacology because its lower critical solubility temperature (LCST) is close to the physiological temperature. The understanding of the phase transfer mechanism of PNIPAM near the LCST is of great significance for the design, development, and application of its derivatives. In this study, a dynamic single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) approach was used to quantitatively assess the dyna

Conductive elastomers are promising for a wide range of applications in many fields due to their unique mechanical and electrical properties, and an understanding of the conductive mechanisms of such materials under deformation is crucial. However, revealing the microscopic conduction mechanism of conductive elastomers is a challenge. In this study, we developed a method that combines in situ deformation nanomechanical atomic force microscopy (AFM) and conductive AFM to successfully and simultan