Variations of Polymer Porous Surface Structures via the Time-Sequenced Dosing of Mixed Solvents

Abstract

A new approach to polystyrene surface treatment via the time-sequenced dispensing of good and poor solvent mixtures on the rotating surface of treated substrate is presented in this study. It is demonstrated that the variation of the sequencing together with other variables (e.g., temperature and solvent concentration) affects the size and depth of pores evolving on the polystyrene surface. A model of the surface pore creation, associated with the viscoelastic phase separation, surface tension, and secondary flows caused by temperature variations and the rapid evaporation of the good solvent is proposed. Experimental results of profilometric, goniometric, and optical measurements show that this approach enables the simple and quick preparation of surfaces with various numbers, diameters, and depths of individual pores, which ultimately affects not only the wetting characteristics of the surfaces but also the fate of cells cultivated there. The presented method allows the easy preparation of a large number of structured substrates for effective cell cultivation and proliferation.

Preparation of Textured Surfaces on Aluminum-Alloy Substrates

“…It is known that textured surfaces influence material-utility properties, increase adhesion [8,9,10,11], and implicate the development of cell systems [27,28]. …”

Preparation of Hierarchically Structured Polystyrene Surfaces with Superhydrophobic Properties by Plasma-Assisted Fluorination

“…Tetrahydrofuran-HPLC grade (THF) and 2-ethoxyethanol p.a. (ETH), both from Sigma-Aldrich Ltd., (St. Louis, MO, USA) were used for surface microstructure production on the PS substrates [23]. Ar gas (purity 99.999%, Messer Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany) and CF 4 gas (purity 99.7%, Air Liquide, Paris, France) were used.…”

“…After the last dose, the sample was left to rotate for another 120 s. Unless otherwise stated, all the experiments were performed at a temperature of 295 K (substrate, solutions, and surrounding atmosphere) or a temperature of 303 K for solutions. Besides that, the air humidity was monitored and kept at 50% ± 2%, as described in our previous work [23]. The dosing device constructed for the modification of the polymer surface topography (TSSC) by phase separation at rotation.…”

“…A specially constructed device ( Figure 1), a time-sequenced phase-separation chamber (TSSC, home made), is proposed for the generation of micro-and nanoporous polymer systems at rotation. The TSSC allows for the control of all of the process parameters of the previously described time-sequenced phase separations during rotation [23].…”

Breath-Figures Self-Assembly, the Versatile Method of Manufacturing Membranes and Porous Structures: Physical, Chemical and Technological Aspects

“…For evaporated films of a thickness above 100 nm thermo-capillarity forces become dominant, resulting in instability caused by the Marangoni convection, either thermo-or soluto-capillary [103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113]. It should be mentioned that the analysis of the thermo-and soluto-capillarity inspired patterning in essentially non-linear one and involves complicated mathematical models [103][104][105][106][107][108].…”