NANOINDENTATION ON POLYCARBONATE POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE BLENDS

The combination of a scanning force microscope (SFM) with an integrate d microindenter makes it possible to investigate mechanical properties of polymers and their blended systems with high spatial resolution. T he behaviour of the polymers polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacryla te (PMMA), and PC/PMMA blends were investigated using nanoindentation with different mechanical load, frequency, and development of inelasti c deformation with time. The results of the microscopic measurements w ere compared with macroscopic properties from tensile test experiments . The relation of the Young's moduli of the macroscopic and microscopi c tests of the neat polymers are comparable.