Acquisition of Atomic Force Microscope and Surface Forces Apparatus for Studies of Polymer Interfaces

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An Atomic Force Microscope with a Scanning Tunneling head and a Surface Force Apparatus will be utilized to study polymer interfaces at Lehigh University's new Polymer Interface Center. These instruments have the respective ability to image surfaces on the nanometer scale and to measure the forces of interaction between surfaces. They are essential complements to existing microscopic and spectroscopic instrumentation in the ongoing and planned research at Lehigh on well-defined model polymer/substrate systems. The polymer/substrate interface will be characterized, and the adsorption/desorption of polymers on the substrate and the relationship between polymer morphology and the physical and chemical properties of the substrate surface will be studied. In addition, these instruments will enable direct measurement of the force of interaction between colloidal particles and enhance research in other multidisciplinary materials-related areas such as bioseparation, catalysis, and microelectronic packaging. Placing them in the Polymer Interface Center will ensure that they will be utilized by a wide variety of research groups both at Lehigh and from industry. //