Control of the Wetting Behavior of Thin Polymeric Films on Inorganic Substrates

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This research examines the effect of ionomers on the dewetting of thin film coatings on inorganic substrates. Sulfonated and carboxylated polystyrene and carboxylated polysiloxane ionomers will be synthesized and spin-coated onto silicon disks. The thin films will be annealed at various temperatures above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and the dewetting kinetics will be measured by x-ray reflectivity, atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy. The interactions of the polymer films and model compounds with a silica surface will be measured using mid- and far-infrared reflectance-absorption spectroscopy. The dynamic viscoelastic properties of the polymers will be determined by rheology measurements. %%%The stability of polymeric coatings is critical for a wide variety of technologies, including electronics, biomaterials, smart materials, adhesives, tribology, lithography, and high performance composites. This research investigates the thermodynamic and dynamic origins of dewetting of polymer liquids from solid substrates and the information obtained may enable the use of thinner coatings, as well as coatings with tailored surface chemistry. The research will also train undergraduate and graduate students in polymer chemistry and engineering and surface and interfacial science.***