Quantifying adhesion bond parameters to distinguish interactions of hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks of polystyrene-poly-2-vinylpyridine with a silicon nitride surface.

An analysis of the loading rate dependence of the forces required to rupture an AFM tip from a block copolymer surface has provided insight into the structure of the surface-macromolecule contact, differentiation of the block contacting the tip, a measure of the polymer-surface binding energy, and the rigidity of the contact. Polystyrene-poly-2-vinylpyridine block copolymers were studied adsorbing to silicon nitride. Polystyrene makes stiff van der Waals contact with the silicon nitride surface in aqueous solution, while the bond of poly-2-vinylpyridine to the surface is more flexible and may involve a bridging water.

Application of scanning force and near field microscopies to the characterization of minimally adhesive polymer surfaces.

This mini-review reports efforts to develop new scanning probe microscopies to characterize the function and aging of textured, minimally adhesive polymer surfaces used for antifouling applications in the marine environment. Novel atomic force and infrared near field microscopy techniques have been used to characterize the polymer surface adhesion and structural properties. These techniques may find promise for characterizing the deposition of the extracellular matrix of organisms as well as aging of the polymer coating itself.