Nanorheology of squeezed polymer films

We present investigations of submicrometer quasi-two dimensional flow mechanics of squeezed thin polymer films in the context of nanoimprint lithography. The polymer films were indented by patterned spherical indenters above and below the glass transition region in a temperature controlled nanoindenter. Static and dynamical mechanical characteristics of the contact were monitored during the printing process. We demonstrate the relation of substrate deformation in the cold embossing technique and residual stress relaxation during hot embossing to the overall pattern transfer fidelity during isothermal stamping.