The methodology to perform friction force microscopy experiments for contacting brushes is presented: Two polymer brushes that are grafted from (a) substrates and (b) colloidal probes are slid to show that, by using two contacting immiscible brush systems, friction in sliding contacts is reduced compared to miscible brush systems.
de Beer, S., Kutnyanszky, E., Müser, M. H., Vancso, G. J. Preparation and Friction Force Microscopy Measurements of Immiscible, Opposing Polymer Brushes. J. Vis. Exp. (94), e52285, doi:10.3791/52285 (2014).