Due to the growing demands of polymer researchers who require fast, high resolution, and quantitative nanomechanical measurements, Oxford Instruments Asylum Research announces the Cypher™ ES Polymer Edition atomic force microscope (AFM).
The new Cypher ES Polymer Edition AFM is optimized for polymer research offering highest resolution, fast scanning, heating, and the most comprehensive suite of nanomechanical characterization tools.
The Cypher ES Polymer Edition is ideal for many polymer and material science applications such as imaging morphology and structure, measuring force and deformation, mapping nanomechanical and thermal properties, monitoring dynamic processes including solvent and thermal effects, and for probing electrical and functional behavior.
For a limited time, special pricing and fast delivery is available for the Cypher ES Polymer Edition. Learn more at www.oxford-instruments.com/cypher-polymer-edition
“Asylum Research’s innovative nanomechanical scan modes and environmental capabilities have made it possible for us to address the specific demands of polymer scientists with our new Cypher ES Polymer Edition AFM system,” said John Green, Director of Sales.
“Asylum Research is the only AFM manufacturer to offer high resolution and quantitative imaging of both the elastic and viscous response of materials. This is an essential capability for polymer scientists since virtually all polymers exhibit significant viscoelasticity. With the Cypher ES Polymer Edition AFM system, the polymer researcher now has many powerful tools within one system to operate efficiently, get quantitative data, and correlate results.”
The Cypher ES Polymer Edition includes three exclusive nanomechanical characterization techniques. Two AFM techniques, AM-FM and Contact Resonance Viscoelastic Mapping Modes, enable high resolution, quantitative mapping of both the elastic modulus and the viscous response (i.e. loss modulus or loss tangent). The third technique, Fast Force Mapping Mode, enables quantitative high-speed elastic modulus mapping.
Unlike others, Asylum’s Fast Force Mapping Mode captures every force curve in the image, measures both deflection and the Z sensor signal, and supports both common indentation models like Hertz, Sneddon, and DMT along with more advanced models including JKR and Oliver-Pharr.
Additionally, the Cypher ES Polymer Edition offers the highest resolution fast scanning AFM with integrated environmental control. It includes a high temperature sample heater, which integrates seamlessly without extra cables, tubing or controllers, to enable hassle-free exploration of polymer phase transition phenomena at temperatures up to 250°C. Finally, it includes Asylum’s exclusive blueDrive™ photothermal excitation option, which makes tapping mode operation simpler, more stable, and more quantitative.
Researchers looking for educational material on AFM for polymer applications can find a wide range of application notes, webinars and real-world image examples from the website: www.oxford-instruments.com/afm-polymers.
Image caption: Cypher ES Polymer Edition AFM pictured with an image of syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) and polystyrene (PS) that was imaged after heating to ~135° then allowed to cool. The round, isolated domains are PS and the continuous matrix around them is the sPP. Scan size 3 µm. Play the full movie at: www.oxford-instruments.com/polymer-movie
About Oxford Instruments Asylum Research
Oxford Instruments Asylum Research is the technology leader in atomic force microscopy for both materials and bioscience research. Asylum Research AFMs are used for a wide variety of nanoscience applications in material science, physics, polymers, chemistry, tribology, biomaterials, and bioscience, including emerging applications in energy storage and generation, low-dimensional materials, and biophysics.
Asylum’s MFP-3D family of AFMs includes four different models that span a wide range of performance, applications, and budgets. The new MFP-3D Infinity is the flagship of the family, offering the highest performance, simplest operation, and widest range of capabilities. The MFP-3D Classic, the original MFP-3D offered for mid-range budgets, provides high performance and versatility that exceeds most AFMs. The MFP-3D Origin is the most affordable model, offering the same performance as the MFP-3D Classic with many accessories and an easy upgrade path to advanced capabilities. Finally, the MFP-3D-BIO integrates with an inverted light microscope to support biological and photonic applications.
Cypher is the highest resolution fast scanning AFM and is available in two configurations, the Cypher S and the Cypher ES Environmental AFM. They provide low-drift closed loop imaging for the most accurate images and measurements possible today, >20X faster imaging with small cantilevers, exceptional ease of use, and integrated thermal, acoustic and vibration control – all in a small footprint. Cypher AFMs routinely achieve higher resolution than other AFMs, as demonstrated by single point atomic defects in crystal lattices and imaging of the DNA double helix. The Cypher ES adds gas and liquid environmental control, temperature control, and enhanced chemical compatibility to the extraordinary performance of the
Cypher S.
In addition to the best AFMs, Asylum Research also offers unmatched customer support that is free for the lifetime of the AFM and industry-leading warranties for the lowest cost of ownership of any AFM. Asylum has sales, applications and service staff in offices in the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Japan, France, China and Taiwan and global distribution.