SPM-Nanoa Enables Evaluating Dispersion Status of CNF/Polymer Composite Fibers

User Benefits

- The CNF dispersion status on the surface of composite materials can be easily evaluated at the nano-scale level. - The quantitative modulus of elasticity distribution on the surface of composite materials can be visualized at high resolution.

Introduction

Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) are cellulose that has been broken apart into nanometer-sized fibers. CNFs are increasingly being used as a reinforcing material in light-weight high-strength composite materials. To improve the mechanical properties of CNF/polymer composite materials, the CNFs must be dispersed uniformly throughout the polymer material. That dispersion status is evaluated using a scanning probe microscope (SPM [AFM]). This article describes an example of using an SPM-Nanoa with Nano 3D Mapping^TM Fast nano-properties evaluation software to evaluate the CNF dispersion status on the surface of a fiber composite material by qualitatively observing phase images and quantitatively mapping physical property values at high speed.

May 16, 2022 GMT