This paper reports a new method to characterize the mechanical properties, such as the elasticity, of a thin elastomeric film. A sensitive microscope visualization instrument is developed for measuring the deformation of a circular membrane of thickness less than 200 mum, under a constant load. The elastic deformation of the thin membrane was measured laterally. A theoretical model is constructed to quantitatively correlate the elasticity to the deformation profile of the membrane. The good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results facilitates the determination of the elastic modulus of a thin elastomeric membrane. [References: 15]
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