Abstract
Recent measurements of the forces acting between two polystyrene layers adsorbed onto mica surfaces, immersed in a poor solvent for the polymer, show strong initial attraction as the surfaces approach, followed by ultimate repulsion1. This has been attributed to attractive osmotic interactions between the adsorbed layers, and possibly to the effect of bridging2,3. We have extended these measurements to the case of polyethylene oxide (PEO) layers adsorbed on mica, immersed in an aqueous 0.1 M KNO3 medium at pH 6 (a good solvent for PEO). Using monodispersed polymer of two molecular weights, we find that an equilibrium force–distance profile is indicated. As the surfaces bearing the adsorbed PEO approach, repulsive forces commence at a surface separation D ≃ 6±1Rs (unperturbed radius of gyration of the respective polymers) and increase monotonically on approach; on subsequent separation the forces decrease monotonically to zero. We find no evidence for attraction or adhesion between the adsorbed layers in this system.
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Klein, J., Luckham, P. Forces between two adsorbed polyethylene oxide layers immersed in a good aqueous solvent. Nature 300, 429–431 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/300429a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/300429a0
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