Rheological analysis of the adhesion surface with a scanning probe microscope (SPM)

Abstract The frictional forces between pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs), including rosin tackifier resin, and a probe tip were measured with scanning probe microscopy (SPM). A peak that appeared in the scanning rate–frictional force curve shifted to a lower scanning rate with decrease in temperature. The frictional force reflects rheological behavior of the PSA. In the case of the miscible system, the tendency of a peak to shift to a lower scanning rate was observed with increase in tackifier content; however, in the case of the immiscible system, no remarkable shift was observed. The frictional force is influenced by viscoelastic properties of the PSA, which systematically changed with miscibility. The high-scanning rate resulted in the interfacial failure on the surface, while the low-scanning rate resulted in the cohesion failure.