1;Preface;7 1.1;Scope of the Book;7 1.2;To whom is this Volume Written?;8 1.3;Acknowledgments;9 1.4;References;10 2;Contents;11 3;Part I Principles: Theory and Practice;15 3.1;1 Physical Principles of Scanning Probe Microscopy Imaging;16 3.1.1;Abstract;16 3.1.2;1.1 Introduction;16 3.1.3;1.2 The Physical Principles of Atomic Force Microscopy;17 3.1.4;1.3 Modeling the AFM Force-Distance Curve: Interactions Between Tip and a Planar Half- Space;24 3.1.5;1.4 Static Theory of Deflected Cantilever Beams;26 3.1.6;References;36 3.2;2 Atomic Force Microscopy in Practice;38 3.2.1;Abstract;38 3.2.2;2.1 Assembling of AFMs for Operation;38 3.2.3;2.2 Practical Issues of AFM Operation;58 3.2.4;References;86 3.2.5;General Reading;87 4;Part II Case Studies: Macromolecules, Polymer Morphology and Polymer Surface Properties by AFM;89 4.1;3 Visualization of Macromolecules and Polymer Morphology;90 4.1.1;Abstract;90 4.1.2;3.1 Structural Hierarchy in Polymers;90 4.1.3;3.2 Single Component Systems;100 4.1.4;3.3 Biopolymers;129 4.1.5;3.4 Multicomponent Systems;151 4.1.6;3.5 Polymers in Applications: Effects of Processing and Processes;172 4.1.7;References;192 4.2;4 Polymer Surface and Interface Properties and ( Dynamic) Processes;199 4.2.1;Abstract;199 4.2.2;4.1 Adhesion;199 4.2.3;4.2 Friction;214 4.2.4;4.3 Surface Mechanical Properties;221 4.2.5;4.4 Thermal Properties and Thermal Transitions;227 4.2.6;4.5 Swelling and Solvent Effects;237 4.2.7;4.6 Chemical Reactions, Degradation, and Erosion;240 4.2.8;References;244 4.3;Appendices;247 4.3.1;A. AFM manufacturers;247 4.3.2;B. Probe Tip manufacturers / vendors;249 4.3.3;C. SPM software;251 4.3.4;D. Web-based resources;252 4.4;Index;253