Dynamic mechanical characterization of very soft polymeric materials using nanoindentation techniques

Polymer thin films and surfaces play a major role in the functionality of many components in the microelectronic and automotive industries. The characterization of their mechanical properties at a nanometer scale remains a technological challenge. Depth-sensing indentation, with frequency-specific dynamic analysis, provides means for viscoelastic measurement of near surface properties of polymeric materials. The development of new automated test methodologies with improved measurement accuracy and precision for evaluating very soft polymeric materials are presented in this work. Results of viscoelastic properties at various frequencies for polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane, using both Berkovich and Flat punch geometries, are compared. Indentation results are compared to the results of dynamic mechanical analysis testing on the same materials.