A multilens measurement platform for high-throughput adhesion measurements

Abstract

Current high-throughput methodologies for measuring interfacial adhesion typically rely on serial or sequential testing of discrete or continuous libraries. We have developed a measurement platform that employs an array of micro-lenses to simultaneously measure adhesion at multiple points on a planar specimen library. This technique relies on the accurate measurement of the overall lens array displacement, rather than load and individual lens contact areas to quantify the work of adhesion using the Johnson, Kendall and Roberts (JKR) model. We demonstrate the ability of this technique to measure the work of adhesion (loading) and energy release rate (unloading) for a polydimethylsiloxane lens array against glass, and we compare our work of adhesion measurements to the traditional single-lens geometry. We find the work of adhesion measured with the multilens array is 18.9 mJ m −2 ± 9.4 mJ m −2 compared to 20 mJ m −2 ± 5 mJ m −2 for a single-lens experiment. Also, the micro-lens array deviates from the JKR model when the lens array displacement is comparable to lens height.

Gradient and Microfluidic Library Approaches to Polymer Interfaces

“…20b) into contact with a substrate possessing a gradient in material properties or environmental parameters along one or both axes of the array [94,95]. Conversely, the hemispherical lens array could embody one of the property gradients, such as a gradient in surface energy, or the lens array itself could be comprised of a material gradient, such as composition of the lenses within in the array.…”

Combinatorial and High‐Throughput Methods in Macromolecular Materials Research and Development

“…Crosby et al developed a multilens array method for determining adhesion. [98,99] An edge delamination method has also been used to determine adhesion of polymer films onto surfaces that have varying surface energy and/or polymer composition. [100,101] A novel buckling method was developed by Wilder at al.…”

The development of coatings using combinatorial/high throughput methods: a review of the current status

“…[45][46][47][48] At General Electric Company, a full combinatorial workflow for the development of clear coatings for plastics substrates was developed that was based on 48 element arrays and allowed for throughputs on the order of 100 coatings per day. 34 Since the coating compositions did not contain pigments or fillers, coating preparation was conducted using a commercially available liquid handling robot.…”