Fabrication and atomic force microscopy/friction force microscopy (AFM/FFM) studies of polyacrylamide–carbon nanotubes (PAM–CNTs) copolymer thin films

A novel polyacrylamide–carbon nanotubes (PAM–CNTs) copolymer has been prepared by ultraviolet radiation initiated polymerization. The PAM–CNTs copolymer was characterized by the instruments of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis absorbance spectra, fluorescence spectra and transmission electron microscope. The morphology and microtribological properties of PAM–CNTs thin films on mica were investigated by atomic force microscopy/friction force microscopy (AFM/FFM). The friction of the films was stable with the change of applied load and the friction coefficient decreased significantly as the CNTs addition. The results show that the rigid rod-like CNTs in polymer would enhance load-bearing and anti-wear properties of the thin films.