Interferometry was used to measure rn situ the thickness profiles of evaporatirrg thin films as a function of heat flux for low concentmtion polystyrenelcyclohexane solutions. Evaporative heat Pow rates per unit width of contact line were calculated based on polynomial fits of interference data, combined with a fluid flow model. Tempemture profiles obtained from thermocouple measurements were employed in evcrluating macroscopic interline region heat sink capacities using a one-dimensional heat conductiotz model. Reasonable crgreement between evaporative heat puxes derived from both methods w u established. Pure solvent integral heat fluxes were --'Currently at Wayne State Unlverslty worklng on Ph.D In Chemlcal Englneerlng Presented at the 42nd Annual Meetlng in Anahelm, Callfornia May 11-14,1987 Final manuscript approved August 11, 1988 a = wafer thickness; [m] B = constant, Eq. 3; [N.ni2] g = gravitational acceleration; [m.s-'] AH, = latent heat of vaporization; [J.kg-'1 k = thermal conductivity; [W.m-'.K-I] K = curvature; [ I T -' ] L = order of interference; [dim] m = degrec of polynomial; [dim] M = molecular weight; [kg.mol-I] p = power input; [W] P = pressure; [~. m -' ] pC1 = d" ~s j o l n~n g ' ' pressure; [N.m-'] PlVI = liquid pressure at the vapor-liquid interface; [~. m -~] P.,. = evaporative heat flux per unit width of contact line at contact line; [~. m -~] AP = pressure drop across interface; [N.m-'] Q = evaporative heat flux per unit width of contact line; [~. m -' ] r = reflectivity; [dim] R = radius of curvature; [m] T = temperature; [K]not significantly altered through polylrter addition. Fluid flow toward the triple interline to replace that which evaporuted resulted i n a n apparent non-equilibrium phase separation of concentrated polymer solution from the bulk phase; the sepamtion increased with increasing polymer mulecular weight alrd concentration. A substantial rire in the reflectivity beyond the first interference fringe indicated the possible deposit of a n ultra-thin polymer or polymer solution film.