| Abstract
| - An analysis of the loading rate dependence of the forces required to rupture an AFM tip from a block copolymer surface has provided insight into the structure of the surface−macromolecule contact, differentiation of the block contacting the tip, a measure of the polymer−surface binding energy, and the rigidity of the contact. Polystyrene−poly-2-vinylpyridine block copolymers were studied adsorbing to silicon nitride. Polystyrene makes stiff van der Waals contact with the silicon nitride surface in aqueous solution, while the bond of poly-2-vinylpyridine to the surface is more flexible and may involve a bridging water.
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