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Nano-scale mapping of mechanical and chemical surface properties of pigment coated surfaces by torsional harmonic atomic force microscopy

Year: 2011

Journal: Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Volume 373, Issues 1-3, 3 January 2011, Pages 138-144, 20111221

Authors: Petri Ihalainen, Joakim Järnström, Anni Määttänen, Jouko Peltone

Organizations: Center of Excellence for Functional Materials, Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting, Åbo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3-5, FI-20500 Turku, Finland

In this study, torsional harmonic atomic force microscopy (TH-AFM, HarmoniX mode) was applied for surface mapping of the mechanical properties of pigment-latex coated paper samples. In addition, topographic images and force maps of adhesive tip-sample interactions were captured concurrently. The spatial distribution of latex binder on the composite surface was distinguished with high resolution. The latex was found to dominate the surface chemistry of the composite coating, despite the fact that latex is a minor component in the coating color formulation. The latex resided as a thick layer between the pigments and as a thin layer on the individual pigments. In addition, the tip-sample thermodynamic work of adhesion of the composite materials on the coated surface was compared to the surface energy values obtained by contact angle measurements. A high tip-sample work of adhesion correlated to high surface energy.