Berlin 2008 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 31: Thin Films
CPP 31.4: Talk
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 10:15–10:30, C 264
Solvent content in thin spin-coated polymer films — •Jan Perlich1, Volker Körstgens1, Ezzeldin Metwalli1, Leander Schulz1, Robert Georgii2, and Peter Müller-Buschbaum1 — 1TU München, Physik-Department LS E13, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748 Garching (Germany) — 2Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, TU München, Lichtenbergstr. 1, 85747 Garching (Germany)
The detection of remaining solvent in thin polymer films is important due to its effect on chain mobility and film homogeneity. It is essential for swelling experiments to define the initial state with respect to the amount of solvent included inside the film directly after preparation. Moreover, it gives an estimate on possible aging effects caused by the reduction of the solvent content. The investigation focuses on a well controlled model system, which consists of protonated polystyrene (PS) with different molecular weights, spin-coated out of protonated or deuterated solvent onto silicon substrates. Directly after spin-coating the thin films were investigated with neutron reflectometry at the MIRA instrument of the research neutron source FRM-II. A narrow qz range around the critical edge was probed with high resolution. Due to the high sensitivity of the position of the critical edge on the ratio of protonated PS and deuterated solvent, the exact position of the critical edge enables to determine the solvent content. Two different key parameters are addressed: the molecular weight of PS and the film thickness. In addition, annealing of the as-prepared films is discussed. We acknowledge financial support by project MU 1487/4-2.