Influence of SEM vacuum on bone micromechanics using in situ AFM

Ines Jimenez-Palomar, Anna Shipov, Ron Shahar, Asa H. Barber*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mechanical properties of rat bone at micron length scales have been evaluated as a function of environmental conditions using an in situ atomic force microscope (AFM) setup while observing using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Focused ion beam fabricated rat bone cantilever samples were tested in both low and high vacuum conditions in the SEM as well as wet in air using the AFM to measure their elastic modulus. The elastic modulus of rat bone at micron length scales is shown to be independent of the environmental testing conditions and indicates water is bound to bone material even under relatively high vacuum conditions. Our work therefore shows how in situ mechanical testing of bone while observing using high resolution SEM can provide results similar to testing wet in air.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-155
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012

Keywords

  • AFM
  • Bone
  • FIB
  • Hydration
  • Micromechanics

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