Elasticity, wear, and friction properties of thin organic films observed with atomic force microscopy

Abstract

An atomic force microscopy study is presented on lubricating systems, such as thin organic Langmuir–Blodgett films. Local elastic compliance was measured simultaneously with topography and friction on thin films of mixtures of fluorocarbons and hydrocarbons. On the phase‐separated fluorocarbon domains, higher friction and lower Young’s modulus than on the hydrocarbon domains was found. Adhesive wear has been observed to occur randomly on the stiffer hydrocarbon domains if the film is complexed with a counterion polymer of a larger cross‐sectional area. A quantitative fractal analysis of the hydrocarbon film remaining areas provided a linear adhesive wear dependence on the scan cycle number.