Surface Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Poly(α-methylstyrene) Thin Films Prepared by Vacuum Deposition

Abstract

Poly(α-methylstyrene) of various molecular weights was vacuum-deposited on different substrates including glass, gold, and silicon. The effects of substrate type, as well as the molecular weight of the polymer, on the morphology and wettability of the deposited films were investigated. The advancing and receding contact angles of water on the surfaces were measured by the method of Wilhelmy plate. Besides, the film surfaces were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis.. The results show that the growth of the polymer on gold tends to be of the Stranski−Krastanov mode, in which the growth leads to a smoother geometry. On the other hand, the growth on glass and silicon shows the island mode and results in a rougher surface. The differences in diffusion coefficients and viscosities of the polymers of various molecular weights cause distinct island population and surface structure. The contact angles of water on heterogeneous films were examined, and the influence of fractional coverage was interpreted using a theoretical model.

Nonequilibrium Phenomena Influencing the Wetting Behavior of Plant Fibers

“…Ten sisal, ten coir, and five coated glass fibers were cut to appropriate length (∼10 mm). All sisal and coir fibers were then subjected to Soxhlet extraction for 1 h using acetone (25 • C), in order to remove waxes or other fatty substances, and then to deionized water extraction for 1 h (40…”

Digital Terrain Modeling and Industrial Surface Metrology: Converging Realms

“…Surface roughness affects assimilation to the human body of surgical implants and prostheses (Wennerberg, Albrektsson, and Lausmaa 1996). Most recently, surface measurements have been correlated with processes by which thin films of elements and compounds are deposited on smooth substrates, and with other applications in materials science and the semiconductor industry (Amar and Family 1996;Lee, Chen, and Yang 1998). Reliable performance of magnetic tape, disk drives, and related hardware of the Information Age would be impossible without metrology (Bhushan 1997).…”

Digital Terrain Modeling and Industrial Surface Metrology: Converging Realms

“…Surface roughness affects assimilation to the human body of surgical implants and prostheses (Wennerberg, Albrektsson, and Lausmaa 1996). Most recently, surface measurements have been correlated with processes by which thin films of elements and compounds are deposited on smooth substrates, and with other applications in materials science and the semiconductor industry (Amar and Family 1996;Lee, Chen, and Yang 1998). Reliable performance of magnetic tape, disk drives, and related hardware of the Information Age would be impossible without metrology (Bhushan 1997).…”

“…This contrast may be temporary. As high technology continues to create new types of surfaces, more Lilliputian landforms are being revealed (Lee, Chen, and Yang 1998;Medeiros-Ribeiro et al 1998). …”