Quantitative nanomechanical property mapping of epoxy thermosetting system modified with poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer

An epoxy based thermosetting matrix was modified with poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer, obtaining cured nanostructured thermosetting systems. Resulting systems were investigated using a novel atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging mode, known as PeakForce quantitative nanomechanical property mapping (PeakForce QNM), that allows for the quantitative mapping of the local mechanical properties, such as adhesion and elastic modulus, together with the topography. It was demonstrated the capacity of this quantitative nanomechanical mapping to provide information on the local distribution of the elastic modulus, being able to distinguish between the mechanical properties of the two phases present in the analyzed thermosetting systems.