Surface Dynamics of Partially Tethered Polymer Films

POSTER

Abstract

The surface dynamics of ``partially tethered'' thin films have been studied using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). Polystyrene (PS) chains have been grafted to substrates with low grafting densities, untethered deuterated PS (dPS) chains spun cast on the tethered chains and the films annealed to create layers containing both tethered and untethered chains. The extent of mixing between the tethered PS and untethered dPS chains has been measured by neutron reflectivity. The relaxation of surface height fluctuations for these films depends on the density of grafting, molecular weight of tethered chains, and extent to which tethered chains extend into the layer. When the tethered chains are able to stretch to the top surface, the relaxation time is slowed most remarkably.

Authors

  • Jin Kuk Lee

    • Dept. of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325

  • Bulent Akgun

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
    • NCNR, NIST
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Zhang Jiang

    • X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439
    • Advanced Photon Source
    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne National Lab

  • Suresh Narayanan

    • X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439

  • Sushil Satija

    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899
    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

  • Mark D. Foster

    • Dept. of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325
    • Dept. of Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron OH 44325-3909