Polymer thin films are deposited onto rigid materials for testing mechanical properties. However, the functionality of nanocomposites typically requires compliant substrates. Hence, it is important to investigate the nanomechanical properties of these films deposited on both substrates. This study compares the nanoindentation and nanoscratch behavior of Polyvinylamine (PVAm)/ Graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite films on rigid silicon and compliant Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) substrates. Contrary to the indentation rule of adhering to 10% of film depth, we obtain different measured hardness and reduced modulus on each film/substrate system with reduced modulus and hardness values of the PVAm/GO film on Silicon being 2 and 1.3 times higher than the film on PET at 10% film thickness. Experimenting on both substrates showed that extremely shallow indentation depths (< 4% of total film thickness) are necessary to measure comparable substrate independent film properties. The results also indicated that compliant substrate-based films exhibit better scratch resistance and higher adhesion strength of the film. Additionally, finite element analysis showed that using a rigid substrate concentrates the stress and deformation near the film surface. Using the compliant PET substrate results in larger elastic strain zone indicating deformation of the film and substrate alike.

聚合物薄膜沉积在刚性材料上以测试机械性能。然而，纳米复合材料的功能通常需要柔顺的基材。因此，重要的是研究沉积在两个基板上的这些薄膜的纳米力学性能。本研究比较了聚乙烯胺 (PVAm)/氧化石墨烯 (GO) 纳米复合薄膜在刚性硅和柔顺的聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯 (PET) 基材上的纳米压痕和纳米划痕行为。与坚持 10% 薄膜深度的压痕规则相反，我们在每个薄膜/基材系统上获得了不同的测量硬度和折减模量，硅上 PVAm/GO 薄膜的折减模量和硬度值分别是硅上的 2 倍和 1.3 倍。以 10% 的膜厚在 PET 上涂膜。在两种基材上进行的实验表明，极浅的压痕深度（< 总薄膜厚度的 4%）对于测量可比较的基材独立薄膜性能是必要的。结果还表明，柔顺的基于基材的薄膜表现出更好的耐刮擦性和更高的薄膜粘附强度。此外，有限元分析表明，使用刚性基板会在薄膜表面附近集中应力和变形。使用柔顺的 PET 基材会导致更大的弹性应变区，表明薄膜和基材均发生变形。结果还表明，柔顺的基于基材的薄膜表现出更好的耐刮擦性和更高的薄膜粘附强度。此外，有限元分析表明，使用刚性基板会在薄膜表面附近集中应力和变形。使用柔顺的 PET 基材会导致更大的弹性应变区，表明薄膜和基材均发生变形。结果还表明，柔顺的基于基材的薄膜表现出更好的耐刮擦性和更高的薄膜粘附强度。此外，有限元分析表明，使用刚性基板会在薄膜表面附近集中应力和变形。使用柔顺的 PET 基材会导致更大的弹性应变区，表明薄膜和基材均发生变形。