Electric field and dewetting induced hierarchical structure formation in polymer/polymer/air trilayers.
Electrohydrodynamics were studied in a trilayer thin film system consisting of two different polymeric layers and air. A polymer with a higher dielectric constant, poly(methyl methacrylate), was sandwiched between air and a lower dielectric constant polymer, polystyrene. An electric field was applied normal to the interfaces. Along with electrostatic forces, dewetting forces were significant at two of the interfaces, namely, the polystyrene/silicon wafer and the polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) interfaces. These two combined forces produce novel closed-cell structures that are difficult to produce by other existing techniques.
Leach
K Amanda
KA
Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
Gupta
Suresh
S
Dickey
Michael D
MD
Willson
C Grant
CG
Russell
Thomas P
TP
D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055672:Static Electricity; D017155:Wettability
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011137:Polystyrenes; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate