Latest Application Notes

Structure Property Correlation of Bio-nanocomposites
Anasys Instruments Corp

Dimensional similarities between physical characteristics of polymers (such as radius of gyration and lamellar thickness) and nano-sized reinforcing particles lead to the necessity to go beyond filled systems [1] and explore in detail polymer-particle interactions responsible for the improved properties of polymer nanocomposites. Dispersion is a key issue in processing polymer nanocomposites, and has a strong impact on mechanical properties. As opposed to phase separation (more likely to occur w

Raman Spectroscopy and nano-TA analysis of a Polymer Blend
Anasys Instruments Corp

Characterizing polymer blends can sometimes present a significant challenge for a single technique and the best way is a combination of techniques. In this application note, we discuss an PA6-PET blend which was initially characterized via Raman Spectroscopy at a 500nm spatial resolution. Subsequent thermal characterization at a sub-100nm spatial resolution via the nano-TA revealed a lot of interesting details and more complex sub-structures that were not available from the Raman study and helpe

Failure Analysis - Identification of Particles in a Polymer Film
Anasys Instruments Corp

Nano-TA is a local thermal analysis technique which combines the high spatial resolution imaging capabilities of atomic force microscopy with the ability to obtain understanding of the thermal behaviour of materials with a spatial resolution of sub-100nm. This breakthrough in spatial resolution of thermal analysis, which is ~50X better than the state of the art, has profound implications for the fields of Polymers and Pharmaceuticals where local thermal understanding is key.

Heated tip-AFM of nanocomposite Polymer Membranes
Anasys Instruments Corp

Nanocomposite Polymer Membranes: Unlike traditional composite materials whose properties are influenced largely by the constituent components, nanocomposites exhibit such large specific surface areas that interfacial properties can significantly affect bulk behaviour. Poly trimethyl silyl propyne (PTMSP) has garnered attention since its discovery due to its very high permeability, high Tg and exhibited reverse selectivity[1, 2]. However, it was the discovery that the permeability and reverse sel

Heated Tip-AFM of Energetic Materials: Nano-dectonics
Anasys Instruments Corp

Energetic Materials are materials that exhibit dramatic release of stored chemical energy as thermal and mechanical energies. The primary difference between an energetic material and any material that undergoes a chemical decomposition process is the rate at which the decomposition occurs. The decomposition rate is determined by a number of factors including the particle characteristics (chemical composition, size, morphology), the magnitude and duration of the reaction stimulus, and material co

Correlation between nanoscale and bulk Thermal Analysis
Anasys Instruments Corp

Thermal methods such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and modulated temperature DSC (MDSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are well-established techniques for characterizing the morphology and composition of polymers. It is often possible to identify and quantify materials by reference to their characteristic transition temperatures and thermal stability. However, a serious limitation of conventional thermal meth

Analyzing Nanoscale inclusions within a Polymer Matrix
Anasys Instruments Corp

Nano-TA is a local thermal analysis technique which combines the high spatial resolution imaging capabilities of atomic force microscopy with the ability to obtain an understanding of the thermal behaviour of materials with a spatial resolution of sub-100nm. This breakthrough in spatial resolution of thermal analysis, which is ~50x better than the state of the art, has profound implications for the fields of polymers and pharmaceuticals where understanding local thermal properties is key.

Nano-Structure Properties of a Drug Release Coating
Anasys Instruments Corp

HPMC-EC: Blends of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and ethyl cellulose (EC) are widely used as coatings for solid dosage forms to control drug release rates. This study aimed to map and determine the morphological properties of a phase-separated HPMC/EC blend at the nanometer scale using a new nanothermal analysis (nano-TA) technique, thus providing further understanding of the nature of the intermolecular interactions between the components in the blend.