Nonsolvent-induced dewetting of thin polymer films.
The process of nonsolvent-induced dewetting of thin polystyrene (PS) films on hydrophilic surfaces at room temperature has been studied by using water as a nonsolvent. It is observed that the process of nonsolvent-induced dewetting is greatly different from other previous dewetting processes. The PS film is found in nonviscous state in our study. A mechanism of nonsolvent-induced dewetting is deduced in an order of penetration, replacement, and coalescent, and it is different from other previous dewetting mechanisms. The results of experiments are analyzed from thermodynamics and dynamics to support the hypothetical mechanism.
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, PR China.
Lin
L
Xu
Tongfei
T
Shi
Lijia
L
An