Research on thermoplastic elastomers by nano-mechanical properties mapping

热塑性弹性体（TPE）是未来有前途的弹性体材料。它们具有橡胶弹性，同时具有注塑成型等熔融加工性。因此，它们提供了成型工艺的合理化和加工产品的可回收性，这有助于当今的需求，如节能和环境保护。本研究的目的是了解工业加工的TPE的结构和力学性能的评价，其中TPE的基础研究将桥接到实际TPE产品的研发阶段。实现这一目的的关键是在纳米尺度上评价热塑性弹性体的力学性能。基于原子力显微镜的纳米机械映射被用于执行实际实验。证实了经历高剪切过程的TPE显示出完全不同的机械性能，并且这种差异归因于不同的纳米尺度形态。

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs)are the future-promising elastomeric materials. They have rubber elasticity and at the same time have melt processability such as injection molding. Thus, they offer the rationalization of molding processes and recyclability of processed products, which contribute the today's needs such as energy saving and environmental protection. The purpose of this study is the understanding of industry-processed TPEs in terms of structural and mechanical-properties' evaluations, where the basic research on TPEs will be bridged to R & D stage of practical TPE products. The key to realize this purpose is the evaluation of TPEs' mechanical properties at nano-scale. Nano-mechanical mapping based on atomic force microscopy was employed to perform the actual experiments. It was confirmed that the TPEs experienced the high-shear process showed totally different mechanical properties and that this difference was attributed to the different nano-scale morphology.