| Abstract
| - The surface of a bulk polystyrene has been scanned using a AFM equipped with a thermalprobe at different temperatures. Scanning at room temperature reveals a real picture of the surfaceroughness, while scanning 40 and 20 K below the glass transition of the bulk PS results in a very flatsmooth surface. Scans at the Tg show a deformation pattern corresponding to a rubbery substance. Finally,scanning 10 K above the glass transition temperature shows a surface with intense “droplet” formation.It is concluded that a thin surface layer (a few nanometers) exists, which shows a significantly lowerglass transition. This effect can be used to manufacture supersmooth surface areas.
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