Calander Home 2001-2002 2002-2003 Greg Haugstad AFM-Based Methodologies for Nanoscale Tribological and Rheological Characterization of Polymers Date: November 4 Time: Noon to 1 Place: BSBE 4-101 This talk is a survey of the speaker's collaborative research applying atomic force microscopy (AFM) to polymeric systems, including biological and biocompatible polymers. The emphasis is on semi-quantitative methodologies for interrogating the mechanical and frictional response of polymeric systems to a sliding or oscillating stylus on the nanometer scale. In some cases, understanding the nature of this response was the end goal, e.g. for lubrication applications. In many other cases, this understanding enabled the development of methodologies to probe surface crystallinity, molecular entanglement, or confinement effects in ultrathin films. Thus a theme underlying all of our research is the use of mechanical and tribological response as an analytical tool applicable to broader research interests, including biomolecular and biomaterials characterization.