The morphology evolution mechanism of polystyrene (PS)/poly (vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) blend thin films with different PS molecular weights (Mw) was studied. It was found that the morphology evolution was closely related to the molecular weight asymmetry between PS and PVME. In the film where Mw(PS) ≈ Mw(PVME), dewetting happened at the interface between the bottom layer and substrate after SD phase separation. While in the film where Mw(PS) Mw(PVME), dewetting happened at the interface between the middle PS/PVME blend layer and bottom PVME layer near the substrate prior to phase separation. The different sequences of phase separation and dewetting and different interface for dewetting occurrence were studied by regarding the competitive effects of viscoelasticity contrast between polymer components and preferential wetting between PVME and the substrate. The viscoelastic nature of the PS component played a crucial role in the sequence of phase separation and dewetting.
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28 November 2016
Research Article|
November 28 2016
Sequence control of phase separation and dewetting in PS/PVME blend thin films by changing molecular weight of PS
Tian Xia;
Tian Xia
a)
1College of Material Science and Engineering,
Chongqing University of Technology
, Chongqing 400050, China
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Yaping Qin;
Yaping Qin
1College of Material Science and Engineering,
Chongqing University of Technology
, Chongqing 400050, China
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Yajiang Huang;
Yajiang Huang
2College of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Sichuan University
, Chengdu 610065, China
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Ting Huang;
Ting Huang
1College of Material Science and Engineering,
Chongqing University of Technology
, Chongqing 400050, China
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Jianhui Xu;
Jianhui Xu
2College of Polymer Science and Engineering,
Sichuan University
, Chengdu 610065, China
3
China Merchants Chongqing Communications Technology Research and Design Institute
, Chongqing 400067, China
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Youbing Li
Youbing Li
1College of Material Science and Engineering,
Chongqing University of Technology
, Chongqing 400050, China
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: xiatian@cqut.edu.cn
J. Chem. Phys. 145, 204903 (2016)
Article history
Received:
August 04 2016
Accepted:
November 10 2016
Citation
Tian Xia, Yaping Qin, Yajiang Huang, Ting Huang, Jianhui Xu, Youbing Li; Sequence control of phase separation and dewetting in PS/PVME blend thin films by changing molecular weight of PS. J. Chem. Phys. 28 November 2016; 145 (20): 204903. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4968556
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