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The top set of images is at lower magnification while the other set is at a higher magnification. The phase contrast in these images is likely caused by repulsive tip-sample interactions for the nanosilica, resulting in a positive phase that shows up as bright, and an attractive tip-sample interaction for the PMMA, resulting in a negative phase that shows up as dark. Thus, dispersion of the nanosilica can be observed and related to the properties of the nanocomposite.
This study was done in collaboration with the Fire Science Division of NIST BFRL.