title: Structure evolution in layers of polymer blend nanoparticles.
abstract: The early stages of phase evolution, not available for nanometer polymer blend films spin-cast from solutions of incompatible mixtures, have been examined for films prepared from nanoparticles of deuterated polystyrene/ poly(methyl methacrylate) blends (1:1 mass fraction of dPS/PMMA) with PS-PMMA diblock copolymer additives. The initial phase arrangement, confined to the size of nanoparticles, has provided the homogeneity of the initial film composition. The early stages of structure formation, promoted by annealing and traced with atomic and lateral force microscopy (AFM, LFM) as well as secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), resulted in bilayers, observed commonly for as-prepared solvent-cast blends. The initiated capillary instability of the upper dPS-rich layer depended on copolymer additives, which enhanced the lateral structures pinning the dewetting process.
authors.affiliation: Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagellonian University, Reymonta 4, 30-059 Kraków, Poland. raczkowska@if.uj.edu.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raczkowska
authors.forename: Rivelino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budkowski
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Landfester
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernasik
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rysz
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Czuba
mesh_terms: D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D018629:Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion; D017155:Wettability
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate