Slippery or Sticky Boundary Conditions: Control of Wrinkling in Metal-Capped Thin Polymer Films by Selective Adhesion to Substrates

Abstract

Wrinkling patterns at the metallized surface of thin polymer films are shown to be sensitive to the sticky or slippery character of the polymer-substrate interface. Existing theoretical models were expanded to specific boundary conditions (adhesive versus slippery) in order to rationalize these observations. Based on this concept, we were able to propose a new and simple method to orient the wrinkles by chemically patterning the substrate with regions of high and low adhesion.

Localization of Folds and Cracks in Thin Metal Films Coated on Flexible Elastomer Foams

“…They arise from a mechanical mismatch between a stiff sheet bonded to a compliant substrate. The sheet forms wrinkles under compressive stress [1][2][3][4] and forms cracks under tensile stress. [5][6][7] Self-organized patterns of folds and cracks have been exploited in a number of applications, including nano/microfabrication, [ 8 ] surface and interface science, [ 9 , 10 ] biotechnology, [ 11 ] photonics [ 12 ] and stretchable electronics.…”

Hierarchical wrinkling patterns

“…13,15,22,23 As shown in Fig. 1, wrinkling can indeed be induced by immersing the multilayers in toluene vapors at room temperature in a homemade device, allowing in situ optical microscopy observations (Fig.…”

“…[13][14][15] Beside the linear and labyrinthine patterns generally obtained by applying either uniaxial or isotropic stress, a few studies have explored the feasibility to achieve more complex patterns. 13,[15][16][17][18][19][20][21] These strategies are however all based on edge effects and are thus not suitable to organize the wrinkles on large areas. Recently, we described a new method to generate custom-tailored wrinkled patterns based on the molecular diffusion of solvent through the polymer layer.…”

GISAXS study of Au-coated light-induced polymer gratings

“…Additionally, polymers with photo-induced assembly encounter practical applications in lithographic processes [2], in plasmonic coupling studies [3], and in the understanding of adhesion mechanisms [4]. Hence the topic of induced assembly in polymers has a broad and practical impact.…”