We report results of measurements from a novel nano-bubble inflation technique that permits absolute compliance measurements on ultra thin (< 40 nm) polymer films both near to and below the nominal film glass transition. These are “free-standing” but laterally constrained films. We have also solved the viscoelastic equations for the settling of balls into polymer surfaces. Upon including a surface energy term, we find that the absolute creep compliance is obtained and is in agreement with the conjecture that the polymer surface does not exhibit liquid-like properties until the material is above the glass transition temperature of the bulk material.
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