Surface Properties

Abstract

The properties of polymer surfaces, and in particular the surface tension, are critical to many applications of polymeric materials. Surface tension controls the stability of thin films and the ability for polymers to wet a substrate, and is also an important factor in the adhesion of polymers to various substrates. The fundamental origin of surface tension is reviewed herein with emphasis on how surface tension depends on molecular parameters such as molecular weight and chemical constitution of the polymer. Theoretical and empirical correlations for the prediction of surface tension are presented to provide some basis for the molecular design of polymer surface properties. Since many commercial polymers are multicomponent in nature, the effects of compositional heterogeneity on surface tension are discussed for functional polymers and polymer blends. Finally, methods for experimental determination of polymer surface tension are discussed.