Experimental Nanomechanics and Micromechanics – Opportunities in Polymer Science

Monday, April 20, 2009
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Room 229, Norris Hall

Dr. Mark R. VanLandingham
U. S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005

The application of nanomechanical and micromechanical techniques to polymers has typically been limited to contact mechanics-based techniques, namely instrumented nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Recent developments in instrumentation, techniques and analysis open up new and largely unexplored application space regarding soft matter. However, large gaps in understanding still exist regarding the use of these methods to characterize linear and non-linear viscoelasticity, anisotropy, and heterogeneity. Part 1 of this seminar will begin with a brief introduction to contact mechanics techniques, followed by recent efforts to adapt these techniques to local mechanical probing of soft matter, including perspectives on potential directions for future research. In Part 2, new complementary techniques will be discussed, in which (a) the high force and displacement sensitivities of nanoindentation and AFM instrumentation are utilized to develop micro- to nanoscale analogues to macroscale mechanical and solid rheological testing; and (b) mechanical testing and high resolution microscopy, including confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, and AFM, are combined to enable visualization of response and the use of image correlation techniques at small length scales. Lastly, Part 3 of this seminar will focus on the application of multiscale mechanical characterization techniques to a range of fundamental studies of polymer materials. Research topics of interest include polymer gels and gel composites, synergistic toughening of glassy networks, and confinement effects. Extensions to biological systems, including networks and interfaces, will also be discussed.

About the speaker:
Dr. Mark VanLandingham joined the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in 2003 and is currently serving as Chief of the Multifunctional Materials Branch. Prior to joining ARL, Dr. VanLandingham spent 5 years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), initially as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Associate and later as a Materials Research Engineer. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering (1998) from the University of Delaware, a M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering (1993) from the University of Illinois, and a B.S. degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics (1991) from Virginia Tech.

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